Man charged with escape, criminal mischief

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

INEZ — A Lawrence County man was on his way to jail at the Martin County Courthouse on Jan. 11 and received additional charges after trying to escape.

Todd Whitt, 35, of Louisa, is facing charges in Martin Circuit Court of two counts of attempted murder for an incident that occurred June 5, 2021, and is now facing third-degree escape and second-degree criminal mischief charges after trying to escape being returned to jail.

Whitt stabbed Niki Boyles and Shawn Blevins, causing serious injuries to both, the arrest report said.

A press release issued by the Kentucky State Police on June 5, 2021, said the Kentucky State Police post in Pikeville received a 911 call in reference to a stabbing in Martin County and responded to a residence on Buffalo Horn Road, where they discovered a man and a woman had been stabbed.

The initial investigation indicated an altercation between Whitt, Boyles and Blevins that led to Blevins and Boyles suffering from stab wounds, the release said.

Whitt has remained in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center since the incident occurred and was being transported back to the jail when he attempted to escape.

During the attempt to escape, Whitt allegedly kicked out the window in the transport vehicle, the citation said.

Martin County Sheriff John Kirk and Deputy Billy Patrick transported Whitt to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center because of the damage done to the vehicle.