BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A circuit judge will question potential jurors before ruling on a motion for change of venue in the case of Timothy Kennedy, accused of murdering West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Maynard.

Judge Joshua Butcher of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit said Nov. 25 that he will call upon 100 potential jurors, more than twice the usual number, to see whether he can seat an impartial jury in Mingo County.

Defense attorneys want the case transferred to McDowell County after a survey of more than 300 residents showed 75% of them knew about the June 2023 killing and 86% thought Kennedy was guilty.

Kennedy, 31, of Matewan, was indicted in January 2024 on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, attempting to disarm a police officer, and two counts of attempted murder. The attempted murder charges involve Trooper CK Johnson and Ben Baldwin, the initial shooting victim.

Prosecutors say Kennedy shot and killed Sgt. Maynard in an ambush-style attack along Beech Creek Road near Matewan. Maynard was responding to a report of shots fired. The incident led to an hours-long manhunt in the area.

Jury selection begins Dec. 1 with half the jury pool. The second half of the jurors will appear for voir dire Dec. 2.

The trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 8, pending the judge’s ruling on the motion.