Couple accused of murdering 4-year-old Chloe Darnell back in court
WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky (WTVQ)- The couple accused in the murder of 4-year old Chloe Darnell were back in a Whitley County courtroom Monday morning.
Brittany Slaughter and Adam Hayes were in court for a preliminary hearing, where Whitley County Sheriff’s lieutenant David Lassiter testified.
Lassiter says he received a request from a family member for a welfare check on Brittany Slaughter and Chloe Darnell. He says he went to a home on Ova Lane in Whitley County, where he spoke with Adam Hayes. According to police testimony, Hayes says he hadn’t seen Slaughter or Darnell in days.
Lassiter says the welfare check became a missing persons case.
Lassiter returned to the home on November 15th to execute a search warrant, where he found blood splatters on the front porch of the home. He says broken glass and shell casings in the driveway. Investigators then went inside the home.
When asked to describe the conditions, Lassiter says, “Filthy. I’m not trying to be unkind here. The house was covered in urine and dog feces.”
Lassiter says there was a padlock on Chloe’s bedroom door. Drugs and a handgun were found in Hayes’ room.
Brittany Slaughter was located the same day at another home.
“She knew law enforcement was looking for her and she just didn’t want to be found,” Lassiter testifies.
Slaughter was taken in for questioning, where she claimed Chloe fell off a shelf in a room, and hit her head. Hayes claims he did CPR for six hours, but that Chloe had died.
During their separate interviews, when the couple was asked why they didn’t call authorities- they say they were high and there were drugs in the home.
Lassiter says Slaughter eventually took deputies to where Chloe was buried, a cemetery off Devils Creek in Whitley county.
A preliminary autopsy shows that Chloe’s body had there were multiple fractures and blood spots in and around the skull. There were also rib fractures.
Experts and anthropologists from the University of Tennesee are expected to further examine Chloe’s body. A cause of death is pending.
The judge lowering Slaughter’s bond to $250,000. Hayes’ bond remains at $500,000.
The next court date is set for December 18th at 11:30 A.M.
