Brandon Young, 33, of Tompkinsville, pled guilty to the murder of Clarene Adams, 78, his next door neighbor.

Young, who had previously pled not guilty to charges of murder, rape and burglary in the first degree and two counts of persistent felony offender in the second degree, changed his plea on Wednesday, November 2, to guilty on charges of murder and burglary in the first degree with the charges of rape in the first degree and two counts of persistent felony offender being dismissed.

In exchange for his guilty plea, Judge Eddie C. Lovelace’s court records note, Young will receive a sentence of 20 years on the burglary charge and life in prison with no possibility of probation or parole on the murder charge. Final sentencing was set for December 21 with Young to remain incarcerated in an institution in Jefferson County until that time.

Adams’ neighbors in the Old Mulkey Estate neighborhood were in shock almost two years ago when she was discovered in her home by a family member. When the witness arrived at the home, they identified a man running from the home and into the next door residence.

Young was arrested in a very short time and charged with murder, according to KSP Detective Michael Dubree, who investigated the incident.

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The trial of Kenneth Gregory Hodges, 51, of Tompkinsville, began last week in Burkesville. He was arrested in April 2008 on murder charges after Randall E. Page, 76, of Crawford St., Tompkinsville, was found dead at his home from apparent stab wounds.

Kentucky State Police Det. George Atwood investigated the murder. More details on the trial will be published later.

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The Monroe County Board of Education voted to reopen the Monroe Family Wellness Center if it closes following votes of the Monroe County Fiscal Court and Tompkinsville City Commission.

The board, which met in regular session Thursday, November 10, went into closed session to discuss the acquisition of real property with County Judge/Executive Tommy Willett speaking with the group in private. Upon returning to open session, the board members voted unanimously to reopen the center pending the appropriate votes by the other two entities.

Board members looked at the contract with the Department of Local Government, which agreed to keep the facility open for the public for at least three and a half years, and voted unanimously to accept that condition and fulfill that portion of the agreement.

The Center was built on land owned by the Monroe County School District and had been under a long-term lease in exchange for in-kind usage for school students.

The Monroe County Fiscal Court and Tompkinsville City Commission was scheduled to discuss the matter during regular meetings held last Thursday, November 17.

The school board added that it was in the best interest of the county and its residents for the district to begin the day to day operations of the center on Monday, November 28, if the other groups did, in fact, vote to close it prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Providing services to the community at large is planned to continue,” Superintendent Lewis Carter noted. “We will use the transition time to evaluate programs and see where we can add programs and activities for more involvement by the schools and the community at-large.”