Three charged for the murder of Whitley County family

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (WTVQ) – Police say they have the suspects responsible for the strangulation deaths of three people in Whitley County.

Emogene Gardner-Bittner, Christopher Bittner and their 16-year-old son, Robert Kennedy, Jr., were found dead in their home in the Deep Branch community on September 13, 2017.

The Williamsburg Police Department announced Friday arrest warrants were issued for three Indiana men in connection to the case.

One suspect, Darnell Chivers, was in jail on unrelated charges in Hamilton County, Ohio, according to police.

Another suspect, Jeremy S. Hatfield, was taken into custody in Indiana but was extradited to Kentucky late last month.

Police say a third suspect, Anthony L. Hester, was taken into custody in Indiana on Friday.

Chivers, Hatfield and Hester are charged with three counts of murder, burglary and tampering with physical evidence.