A Martin County Couple Charged with Manslaughter After the Death of a Child; Other Indictments Handed Down by MC Grand Jury as Well

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

A Martin County couple has been formally charged in the death of a child under the age of 12 by the grand jury during its February session making them among six indicted for the month.

According to both indictments, Christina Chapman, 40, of Beauty and Patrick Speer, 34, of Warfield, are each charged with a 1st degree criminal abuse charge (with victim under 12 years of age) Class B felony and 2nd degree manslaughter Class C felony.

The indictment states that on August 13, 2025, both are accused of the offense of placing the child under 12-years of age in a situation that may cause him serious injury and wantonly causing the death of the juvenile.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Speer on Thursday, Feb. 5 and according to Martin County Coroner Chris Todd, the victim was an 11-year-old boy.

The scene was investigated by Todd, the Kentucky State Police and social services who Todd said he contacted immediately.

Chapman was arrested in Johnson County on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Both are under $100,000 bail and ordered not to be released from custody until interview and evaluation by pre-trial services have been completed.

No further details are being released at this time.

•Austin Harless, 31, of Debord, was charged with criminal mischief 1st degree when on January 8 he is accused of unlawfully damaging property owned and operated by Booth Energy located on Airport Road in Martin County with financial damage approximately $2,285.

•Roy Kenneth Goble, 50, of Pilgrim, was charged with 1st degree bail jumping when he failed to appear January 15 in Martin County Circuit Court for a bail hearing.

•Kevin Litton, 27, of Tomahawk, was charged with 1st degree criminal abuse-victim under 12 years of age when on April 19, 2024 he is accused of unlawfully causing serious injury to his stepdaughter in the form of bruising on the head and neck of a family member less tha 12 years of age as defined by KRS 500.080 (19).

•Elijah Bailey, 21, of Covington, was charged with assault 4th degree when on January 21 he was accused of intentionally causing physical injury to Caylee Preece of Warfield.

(Editor’s note: An indictment is not an indication of guilt but a determination by a grand jury that criminal charges warrant further judicial review.)