Jurors in Christian County Circuit Court listened to more than seven hours of testimony and cross examination Wednesday afternoon — trying to grapple the full nuance of DNA and forensic evidence available, and not available, in the trial of Commonwealth v. Bobby Spikes.
He remains charged with the double murder of Hopkinsville’s Candace Marcel and Stanley Bussell, and as such, special prosecutor Blake Chambers and defense attorney Jason McGee meticulously worked through a unique crime scene — one that truly stretches the boundaries of Christian County and into Trigg — by speaking to nearly every investigator and lab specialist involved in the case.
With Bussell’s body located in Marcel’s living room floor, and Marcel’s body located in Bussell’s abandoned car along Cerulean Road, the times of death, the times of discovery, the blood located at each scene, the gunpowder residue observed, and other small details are key in solving the riddle.
Kentucky State Police Post 1 first got involved at Cerulean Road, where Detective Trevor Pervine said registration from the Black Camaro confirmed Bussell’s ownership. At the time, Bussell’s family was working with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, and there was no immediate identification for Marcel.
Once there was clarity, Pervine said he and others traveled into Hopkinsville.
Ring camera footage from across the street, Pervine said, was reviewed, and once the Black Camaro was seen coming to, and leaving, Marcel’s apartment, a search warrant was obtained.
Pervine, and many others, confirmed both Bussell and Marcel were killed with a 9 mm caliber pistol.
KSP Post 1 Detective Adam Jones, meanwhile, noted that on December 8, 2021, Bussell had gone to meet up with Marcel — a work associate from Martinrea — which he confirmed through officials.
Jones said Marcel’s autopsy brought some immediate results.
KSP Post 1 Detective Nathan Moore was one of many responsible for processing Bussell’s car, and located no less than five locations serviceable for lifting prints and drafting DNA swabs: the inside driver and passenger door handles, the steering wheel, the gear shifter and the main console.
Hopkinsville Police Department former Detective, now Officer, Robert Stucki was the lead on this case, and on December 9, 2021, he reported to a missing persons report filed by Bussell’s family.
Implemented technology, he said, helped him immediately, as FLOCK cameras pinged Bussell’s car.
While he was reviewing this camera footage, Stucki was notified by Trigg County authorities that Bussell’s car had been located on Cerulean Road — a dead woman inside it.
Spikes, Stucki said, immediately became a person of interest, and was later arrested December 10, 2021, with receipts taken from his recent shopping, and more than $1,200 cash confiscated.
Furthermore, Stucki noted they were able to bring Spikes’ son, Kendall, under indictment through the Christian County Grand Jury, because geofencing reports corroborated the locations of both he and Bobby’s phones for the days in question.
Benjamin Garrison, KSP Central Forensic Laboratory Trace Analysis specialist, received Spikes’ clothing and two sets of shoes following his arrest.
A gunshot residue kit he received wasn’t usable, because it was taken four or more hours after the incident, but other questions were answered.
Testimony from the FBI, and efforts from defense, still remain on the clock. The trial resumes at 8:30 AM Thursday.
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