Charles Hammer, 81, of Tompkinsville, made his first court appearance since being charged with the murder of Herbert “Sprocket” Proffitt, 82, on Tuesday, August 25.

Hammer, who appeared with a representative of Attorney Greg Berry’s office, pled not guilty to a charge of murder in Judge Kristi Castillo’s courtroom on Tuesday, September 11.

Authorities investigating the case noted that they felt revenge was a possible motive in the shooting of Proffitt, who had a history going back to the early ‘80s when he was involved in the arrest of Hammer. Court documents add to the motive as Proffitt was involved in subsequent arrests of Hammer in 2001 and 2002.

The matter came to a head, officials stated, when Hammer allegedly pulled into Rush Lane off Celina Road outside of Tompkinsville and shot Proffitt in the chest.

“It appears that there was an ax to grind,” said Trooper Billy Gregory, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police post handling the investigation. “It appears to me to be revenge.”

“And as far as I’m concerned, it’s a double murder,” said Tompkinsville Police Chief Dale “Frog” Ford. Proffitt’s wife of 53 years, Bernice (Cupp) Proffitt died on Sunday, September 2 after falling ill following her husband’s murder.

Hammer is being held at the Monroe County Jail with no bond and his next court date is September 25.