Charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter in the April 7, 2020, deaths of her 3-year-old and 7-month-old, the trial of Cadiz woman Keyona Bingham began Monday in Trigg County Circuit Court — and wasted little time drawing strong emotions.
Among the afternoon’s admitted evidence from Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins included:
— four photos of Bingham’s burned home on 194 Jefferson Street;
— two photos of Bingham’s deceased children, on scene;
— a high-resolution GoPro video of the property by now Kentucky State Police Sgt. Cory Hamby, taken moments after the house was extinguished;
— record of a 911 call from Pam Wilson at 1:20 PM, who passed by the incident as it was happening, spoke with Bingham, and alerted authorities;
— a fire marshal’s report from inspector Chris Crawford, noting the cause of the fire was indiscernible because of damages;
— death certificates signed by Trigg County Coroner John Mark Vinson;
— relayed reports from Vinson, indicating that performed autopsies determined accidental death by smoke inhalation;
— and a taped interview between Hamby and Bingham at the Cadiz Police Department, in which she admits that her two children weren’t with her when she took a quick jaunt to her stepfather’s house, belonging to Dave Gray, on Martindale for a 5 milligram pill of Lortab.
On the day of April 7, 2020, Bingham had two interviews with Hamby — one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, in a timeline covering about seven hours.
Hamby testified that Bingham originally noted her children were with her on this visit with Gray, and that on a return home — she’d taken her children inside, and then the house caught fire with her unable to save them.
Surveillance footage from the Housing Authority, procured by KSP Detective Michael Robichaud, shows Bingham at Gray’s home from about 1:15 to 1:18 PM that afternoon — sans children.
By 1:20 PM, Bingham was reportedly in her front yard and the house billowing smoke and gouts of flame — further corroborated by testimony from Wilson and neighbors Rob and Nicoh McGee.
Hamby testified further that upon a second interview later that evening, Bingham’s story changed — once she was made aware that footage had her at Gray’s home without the children.
Bingham’s attorney’s, Mary Rohrer and Doug Moore, were concerned that two such charges could be levied in a seven-hour span — particularly since autopsies hadn’t been returned, and a fire inspection wasn’t completed until April 8.
Ovey-Wiggins pressed the issue in redirect.
Gray, who spoke to police twice the day of the fire, further confirmed in his testimony that his stepdaughter, Bingham, had come to him for medication.
Hamby testified that by the time of his second interview with Bingham, it was relayed to him that there was no indication of arson in the home.
In the video, Hamby told Bingham that he didn’t think she was a murderer, but that this was “a terrible, terrible mistake.”
And in her opening statements, Rohrer expressed as much about her client.
Bingham’s jury consists of seven men and seven women, two of which are alternates. Deliberations begin again at 9 AM Tuesday.
Ovey-Wiggins’ opening statement:
Rohrer’s opening statement:
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