Billy Proffitt, 58, indicted June 22 on manslaughter charges tied to McCreary County death

A McCreary County grand jury indicted Billy Proffitt, 58, on June 22 on manslaughter charges connected to a death that occurred in April, according to Kentucky State Police.

WKYT reported the charges stem from a criminal investigation that began after the death was reported in April. Kentucky State Police said the indictment followed the investigation and that the case proceeded to the grand jury stage before formal charging.

Kentucky manslaughter charges generally involve allegations that a defendant’s conduct contributed to a death, with the specific statutory theory set out in the indictment. In this case, State Police said Proffitt was indicted on manslaughter offenses, but the public reporting tied to the indictment announcement did not specify in the available details which specific manslaughter provision(s) were charged.

The indictment was issued in connection with events in McCreary County, a rural East Kentucky county. The charging decision means Proffitt’s next steps are controlled by the court’s criminal process, including arraignment and any subsequent pretrial proceedings.

Public records in Kentucky criminal cases typically track whether defendants remain in custody, obtain release under conditions, or proceed through bond and hearing schedules. At the time of the announcement covered by WKYT, State Police indicated the case had advanced to indictment, which is a formal milestone in the prosecution timeline.

The manslaughter indictment also triggers the next phase of discovery and legal scheduling, where prosecutors and defense attorneys may contest evidence, motions may be filed, and the matter would ultimately be set for trial if it is not resolved earlier.

The Kentucky State Police said the matter is being handled through the criminal justice system, with the indictment reflecting the outcome of the grand jury review after investigation activity related to the April death.