Update on the Tyler Brockman Murder Case

by Johnathan Masters

The Shooting of Samantha Ramsey occurred on April 26, 2014 at 2:13 am on a Saturday morning at a farm party on the 6600 block on River Road (KY-8) in Hebron, Kentucky in Boone County when Tyler Brockman, a Deputy Sheriff of Boone County, squeezed the trigger of his Glock 22 4 times and shot 4 rounds into Samantha Ramsey, hitting her in 6 spots. Two shots go completely through her, in the left arm, and in the right wrist; two shots hit her right chest, and; two shots hit her left chest. She was also shot through her liver, spleen, and her heart's left ventricle.

19-year-old Samantha Ramsey, a preschool teacher was driving a 4 door 2001 white Subaru, along with 3 of her friends, when Tyler Brockman tried to position himself in the forward trajectory of the vehicle to get Ramsey to stop.

There were 5 witnesses to the shooting: Chelsey Pendleton, Ibrahim Komate, Isiah Edwards, Bobby Turner, and Josh Pitts.

All of them said that Tyler Brockman jumped up onto the hood of the car.

After the shooting, Tyler Brockman was placed on paid administrative leave, aka, a paid vacation.

Boone County Sheriff Michael Helmig asked Kentucky State Police (Rodney Brewster, Commissioner) on Thursday to investigate the shooting to avoid “any cloud of wrongdoing”, but KSP turned the request down within a few hours, saying the scene and evidence had been “compromised. 125 hours, about 5 days, had elapsed since Boone Co Sheriff called the KSP.

The KSP was formed in 1948 under Governor Earle C. Clements.

Rodney Brewster is the current Chief Commissioner of the KSP.

Rodney Brewster works underneath Governor Steve Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway.

However, Michael Helmig said Commissioner Rodney Brewster offered to “provide any support for your investigation including but not limited to use of our LEICA forensic scanner, expediting lab requests and any other technical or investigative assistance you need.” Sheriff Helmig said his office respects the Chief Commissioner's position and looks forward to any assistance KSP can provide.

A medical examiner, Dr. William Smock, an emergency medicine physician with 30 years of forensic evaluation of injuries and the analysis of gunshot wounds, reviewed all of the medical documents and evidence in the case and met with investigators.

Dr. William Smock's report said that Tyler Brockman's comments were inconsistent with his medical report.

A urine test for Brockman showed that he was positive for benzodiazepines with a minimum reference threshold of 200 ng/ml. Smock said this was insignificant and consistent with Tyler Brockman's prescribed regimen of 1 mg alprazolam, aka Xanax, as needed for sleep. Brockman said he had taken his last dose within the last 24 hours prior to the incident. The Federal Drug Administration outlines uses for alprazolam for anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax works by slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. This results in a reduction in nervous tension (anxiety). Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. The sedative effects of Xanax may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking Xanax.

Zanex is classified as a schedule IV controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Linda Tally Smith recused herself from the case for unknown reasons, and James M. Crawford was selected to run the investigation, and the Grand Jury hearing.

James M. Crawford has represented Carroll, Grant and Owen counties since 1989.

The 3 person panel included Capt. Bill Wilson of the Campbell County Police Department; Lt. Rich Whitford, of the Fort Thomas Police Department and Detective Corp. Jason Reed, of the Florence Police Department.

They met regularly for six months.

November 4, 2014 was the election day for all of Kentucky's county officials in all 120 counties throughout the state., including County Prosecutors, and Commonwealth's Prosecutors.

2 days after the election day of all of Kentucky's official was over, the Boone County Grand Jury was convened by James M. Crawford, about 6 and a half months after Tyler Brockman murdered Samantha on Thursday, November 6, 2014.

A Grand Jury is supposed to consist of 12 citizens. A grand jury determines whether or not to indict, which means to bring a formal, criminal charge against an individual for a felony. Grand jurors do not decide guilt or innocence. The grand jury hears evidence and determines if there is sufficient proof to support an indictment and require the accused to stand trial.

The threshold for a criminal trial is “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”.

The threshold for a civil trial is “guilty with a preponderance of evidence”.

The threshold for a Grand Jury is merely “probable cause”.

Grand juries are conducted in secret. No one is to be present in the grand jury room during the examination except the commonwealth’s attorney, a stenographer, the witness and anyone else required, such as a guardian for a child or disabled witness.

After all evidence has been presented, the grand jurors will deliberate and decide whether to return an indictment.

Nine of the 12 grand jurors must be in agreement to return an indictment.

After seven hours in court, including testimony from multiple witnesses, the Boone County Grand Jury declined to issue any indictments and issued a No True Bill at 5 p.m. That Thursday, November 6, 2014, 2 days after the Elections for every elected official in the state of Kentucky, including the prosecutors.

The Boone County Sheriff's Department “received extensive assistance,” according to Tally Smith and Crawford's statement, from the Kentucky State Police Collision Analysis & Highway Safety Team, the Northern Regional and Central Forensic Laboratories, Grant County Sheriff's Department and Dr. Bill Smock of the Office of the Police Surgeon for the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Wikipedia deleted the “Shooting of Samantha Ramsey” page because they said it wasn't newsworthy.

Samantha Ramsey graduated from Holmes High School, and she was working at Children’s Inc., a child-care center in Covington.

Samantha Ramsey was born on March 29, 1995. Her 20^th birthday would have been next month.

Witness reenactment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67jET-C_UfQ