SOMERSET, Ky. – A man accused of committing heinous crimes against three members of his own family appeared in court on Wednesday. Austin Prather is facing charges of murder and other offenses in the deaths of his father, Ardyth “Trae” Prather III, and his grandfather, Ardyth “Ray” Prather, Jr., as well as the attempted murder of his grandmother, Joann.
The court appearance in Pulaski County was brief and procedural. Prather, the only case on the docket, had fled to Indiana after the crimes at his family members’ homes. In court, he was appointed two public defenders after stating he did not have a job. The prosecutor informed the judge that the evidence and witness interviews were still being reviewed, and that they planned to file a pre-trial conference two months out.
While the motive behind the crimes remains unclear, the indictment reveals charges of first-degree robbery against Prather, along with tampering with physical evidence. His current bond is set at “no bond allowed,” and a pre-trial conference has been scheduled for February 22.
The details of the crimes have left the local community in shock, as they struggle to make sense of the tragedy. The ongoing legal proceedings will continue to unfold as the case progresses through the justice system.