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Former prison guard sentenced to 20 years in prison for drunken murder of Kentucky police officer

A former prison guard who hit and killed a police officer while driving while drunk was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

Casey P. Byrd drove his pickup truck into a patrol car driven by Logan Medlock, 26, a London Police officer, on October 30, 2022.

London police officer Logan Medlock died in the line of duty on Sunday morning after being hit by a suspected drunk driver.

London police officer Logan Medlock died in the line of duty on Sunday morning after being hit by a suspected drunk driver.

Byrd testified that before the accident, he had been at a friend's house watching a University of Kentucky football game and had consumed several beers and some bourbon.

According to witnesses, Byrd was on his way to meet a woman he was interested in when he ran a red light and struck the driver's door of Medlock's car at an intersection.

Byrd's blood alcohol level was nearly four times the level at which someone is considered drunk in Kentucky, prosecutor Jackie Steele said during Byrd's trial earlier this month.

A jury convicted Byrd of murder and recommended a 20-year prison sentence, the minimum sentence under Kentucky law.

Casey Byrd attended a preliminary hearing in Laurel District Court on November 8, 2022. He is charged with murder and drunken driving in connection with the death of a London, Kentucky police officer.Casey Byrd attended a preliminary hearing in Laurel District Court on November 8, 2022. He is charged with murder and drunken driving in connection with the death of a London, Kentucky police officer.

Casey Byrd attended a preliminary hearing in Laurel District Court on November 8, 2022. He is charged with murder and drunken driving in connection with the death of a London, Kentucky police officer.

District Judge Greg Lay sentenced Byrd on Monday in Laurel County.

Byrd, 37, of Oneida, Tennessee, had worked as a guard at the federal prison in McCreary County before the crash.

Byrd would have served a 20-year sentence and would be eligible for parole after 17 years, although the parole board would not have to release him early.

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