Local News
London man arrested for murder
Michael McQueen charged with shooting girlfriend Christina Hodges, disposing of body in weeds
By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer
A London man has been charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend Thursday morning.
Michael Kenneth McQueen, 37, was arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend, 32-year-old Christina Hodges.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, the department received a phone call at approximately 11:24 a.m. Thursday. McQueen’s brother stated in the call that Michael McQueen killed his girlfriend and might harm himself, according to news reports.
Laurel County Sheriff Fred Yaden said when police arrived at McQueen’s residence on Haley Ridge Road in Laurel County, McQueen had blood on his jeans.
McQueen was detained and officers then began searching the area around the home, where they located Hodges’ body lying in a weedy area over a hill behind the residence.
“It was behind the house and over the bank,” Yaden said. “It was probably 50 yards (away.)”
Police said Hodges appears to have died from a single gunshot wound, though officials weren’t releasing the location of the wound. Laurel County Coroner Doug Bowling said it appears that Hodges had been dead for approximately three to four hours before police arrived. He said an autopsy is scheduled for this morning.
Yaden said officials don’t want to divulge too much information on the incident because it is still under investigation.
“We don’t want to give details, but it appears to be a gunshot wound,” Yaden said.
According to Yaden, McQueen told police that he and Hodges had spats over the years, but said he loved her.
“The suspect had said he loved her,” Yaden said. “His father said they loved each other.”
Yaden also said Hodges had three children, one of whom was McQueen’s child.
McQueen is being held in the Laurel County Detention Center. Assisting at the scene were Kentucky State Police, London City Police, the Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force and Ambulance Inc. of Laurel County.
Det. Tommy Johnston of The Laurel County Major Crimes Task Force leads the ongoing investigation.
- Local News
-
-
Adopt-a-Highway week begins Sunday
Volunteers will be out in force next week to spring clean Kentucky highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced that the Adopt-a-Highway Spring Clean Week will be held March 21-27.
-
Audit: Co. Clerk overpaid worker
Knox County Clerk Mike Corey admits he overpaid an employee by more than $8,000 in wages in 2008, but says, “I did what I had to do” for a long-time employee who faced an emergency medical situation.
-
Survey Says? Laurel Meth Watch making a mark
Work by Laurel County’s Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) seems to be making its mark.
-
How many actually work for the state?
Jeff Hoover has a simple question for Gov. Steve Beshear: just how many people work for state government? But he’s found it’s not such a simple answer.
-
Senate alters, then passes Amanda’s Bill
The state Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a significantly altered domestic violence bill from the version passed earlier by the House as the mother of the woman for whom it is named watched from the overhead balcony.
-
Woman cut from car after wreck on Fifth St.
A 63-year-old woman was trapped in her SUV following a two-car crash Tuesday along Fifth Street Road east of its intersection with KY 1259.
-
Truck with satellite dishes tumbles on Tobacco Road
A tractor-trailer loaded with 40,000 pounds of satellite dishes turned over in east London Tuesday morning.
-
Dogs removed from home put down
Three dogs removed from a Highland Park home on March 11 were in such poor health that the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter had to put the dogs down, according to police.
-
Man knocked out by falling tree
A North Corbin man was flown to University of Kentucky Medical Center Wednesday night after being struck by the snapping trunk of a falling tree.
-
Nighbert again advising Republicans on road plan
By Ronnie Ellis
CNHI News Writer
Bill Nighbert, the former secretary of the Transportation Cabinet (and former Williamsburg mayor) who was tried — and acquitted — on charges of bid-rigging, is again advising Senate Republicans on transportation matters. - More Local News Headlines
-
Adopt-a-Highway week begins Sunday


