CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

PIKEVILLE — Police on Monday arrested a Pike County man on a murder charge in the death of Brent Wooten, whose body was found along a rural road in March.

Brandon Blackburn, 44, was booked into the Pike County Detention Center on charges of murder, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and persistent felony offender, according to Kentucky State Police.

Troopers from Post 9 in Pikeville responded to a 911 call March 1 in the Heller community, where they found Wooten, 45, of Elkhorn City, unresponsive on Allegheny Road. He had suffered an injury to his left side.

The Pike County coroner pronounced Wooten dead at the scene and sent his body to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Investigators determined there was foul play, though authorities have not said what evidence led them to Blackburn.

Detective Jason Merlo of the Pikeville Post led the investigation with assistance from other KSP personnel.