The daughter of a former Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a district judge last year has publicly denounced online speculation about her father’s case, calling it “gossip” and “cruel.”
As The New York Post reported, Eighteen-year-old Lila Stines posted a TikTok video last week defending her father, Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 44, who has been charged in the September 2024 shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54.
The killing occurred inside Mullins’ chambers in Letcher County, Kentucky, and was captured on surveillance video.
Why Did Shawn “Mickey” Stines Call His Daughter Before the Shooting? The Role of Daniel Dotson On September 19, 2024, former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines allegedly shot and killed District Judge Kevin Mullins in his courthouse chambers in Whitesburg, Kentucky. A… pic.twitter.com/eVFJHctEya
— Smokahontas (@Smokahontas2024) September 4, 2025
“Do you have nothing better to do than to sit and gossip?” Lila said in her video. “You are taking my pain and making it your pleasure.”
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Authorities said the video evidence shows Stines entering the judge’s chambers, exchanging cellphones with Mullins, and looking at something on the screens before opening fire. The two men had reportedly been longtime friends and had lunch together hours before the shooting.
After the shooting, Stines walked out of the courthouse and immediately surrendered to police, telling officers, “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid.” He has pleaded not guilty and is pursuing an insanity defense.
In the year since the killing, rumors about possible motives have circulated online, including claims of personal or professional disputes between the two men.
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Some social media users have alleged infidelity involving Mullins and members of Stines’ family — speculation that Lila addressed directly in her video.
“You’re taking our stories and turning them into entertainment pieces, jokes, and for that matter, you’re making it your income,” she said. “Since when did that become OK?”
Lila’s video has since gained more than 40,000 likes and sparked widespread debate. In a follow-up post Monday, she said she was “shocked” at the reaction and criticized commenters who mocked her appearance. She also vowed not to stay silent about the case any longer.
“I just want to say that a lot of things that are in the dark, they are coming to light,” she said. “I looked up the definition of insanity and it’s basically doing the same thing over and over and over again, expecting change. The silence is over.”
From Letcher County: Mickey Stines’ Daughter Breaks Her Silence Mickey Stines’ daughter is speaking out from Letcher County. pic.twitter.com/jl0TASqY8p
— Smokahontas (@Smokahontas2024) October 22, 2025
Meanwhile, new allegations have emerged from others familiar with the case. Letcher County resident Tya Adams told NewsNation’s “Banfield” program that Mullins allegedly used his position to exploit women, describing him as someone who “ran his courthouse like a brothel.”
Adams claimed she and others were coerced into sex acts in exchange for leniency. “It was consensual,” she said, “but it was the thing that we were so young, and then they used it against us and to destroy our lives later.”
Sarah Davis, a former deputy jailer, told the outlet she had also heard about “nasty and sickening” stories related to Mullins’ conduct.
Stines remains in custody awaiting trial. Prosecutors have not commented on whether any of the allegations surrounding Mullins are being investigated in connection with the case.
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If even a quarter of what is rumored is true about Judge Mullins actions , Stines should be released and charges dropped.
Miss Stine would have a point if the victim(Judge) and suspect(Sheriff, father) weren’t elected officials and the murder hadn’t happened in a public building(courthouse). Of course people will talk. The less that is known will cause more “speculation and guessing”.
What I heard about this when it first happened was, the Judge was more or less blackmailing these young women, who had gotten in trouble with the law, as a way to get them to be prostitutes for him, more or less. Including himself. He required them to turn tricks, and service him, in exchange for keeping things off their record. His daughter was one of them, and if I remember right, these girls were all underage when it started. Her dad, who was the sheriff, found out about it and went to confront the judge about it. That was why he took his phone. His daughter phone number was in it. That was who he called from it, and he just lost it in a moment of insanity, or blind rage, and shot him because he knew what would happen to him. Nothing. I also heard, this Sheriff is now running for some office because of what happened with this. I may be mistaken.
No proof necessary, right?