Trial continues against double-murder suspect Bobby Spikes—the man charged in the 2021 deaths of Stanley Bussell and Candace Marcel—in Christian Circuit Court this week.
Special prosecutor Blake Chambers continued to call witnesses to start the second day of trial Tuesday morning, and the jury heard several testimonies, including from coroners from both Christian and Trigg Counties, members of the Trigg County Sheriff’s Department, banking officials and representatives from TRAD and Martinrea, where those involved were employed at one time.
They also heard from the Medical Examiner who conducted the autopsy on Marcel and the process he undertook to complete his examination. Dr. Christopher Kiefer says he was able to determine that Marcel died from a gunshot to the head, and while he could not determine the range of the shot, it came from her left side.
Marcel was found deceased in a vehicle in Trigg County—the discovery of that vehicle would lead to the eventual search of a house on Clearman Court in Hopkinsville, where Bussell was found deceased, also from a gunshot.
A witness who was a best friend of Marcel’s testified to a fight Bobby Spikes got into with friends who were in Marcel’s home in November of 2021. She says when Spikes was told to leave, he began threatening others in the home and one point, things allegedly became physical.
Defense attorney Jason McGee questioned her, asking that if the events played out as described, then why did no one call the police that day.
Both Marcel and Bussell would be found dead in early December of 2021.
Then in the afternoon, Kendall Spikes, Bobby Spikes’ son, took the witness stand and was questioned about the murders and his involvement.
Kendall Spikes entered a guilty plea in February to charges of complicity to tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution or apprehension in the first-degree. It comes with a ten-year-sentence, but the Commonwealth is recommending probation.
Chambers asked questions concerning Bussell’s death, and Kendall Spikes shared that his father came to his house after the murder and admitted to killing Bussell. Bobby Spikes then reportedly asked for his son’s help with disposing of a car.
Kendall Spikes says he followed his father who reportedly left the car somewhere on the shoulder of Cerulean Road. Bobby Spikes then reportedly got into his son’s car and the pair drove back to Hopkinsville. While driving in the area of Lover’s Lane, Kendall Spikes says his father tossed a handgun out of the window.
Kendall Spikes says his father also later admitted to killing Marcel.
McGee then questioned Kendall Spikes about initially lying to investigators which he admitted to. Kendall Spikes says he initially told investigators that he did not see his father with a gun.
Spikes is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, kidnapping tampering with physical evidence and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Story written by Hannah Hageman and Dionte Berry