By Portia Williams
GREENUP COUNTY, Ky. — According to reports from the Greenup County Circuit Court, 17-year old Kelly Fay Dummitt is being charged as an adult in connection with the death of 19-year old Mattie Conley. James W. Ratliff was charged also charged on Sept. 22 with second degree manslaughter and tampering with evidence in Conley’s death. Conley’s body was found lying on the 10,000 block of KY. SR 784 Sept.19, 2015.
Reportedly, on Sept. 19, 2015, Ratliff was driving a Polaris ATV with Conley as a passenger, when Ratliff’s former girlfriend, Dummitt began to chase Ratliff and Conley in a vehicle behind them. Cook said Ratliff and Dummitt told authorities that Conley jumped from the ATV while the vehicle was in motion. Officials say Conley’s death appeared to be from a massive skull fracture.
During a hearing held last month, Greenup County Deputy Bo Cook who has been investigating the case testified that Dummitt told witnesses she meant to kill Conley. Additionally, both Ratliff and Dummitt originally told authorities that Conley jumped off the ATV in fear, which conflicted with what investigators discovered after reconstruction of the scene.
Also in last month’s hearing, Greenup County District Court Judge Brian McCloud ruled the case involving Conley’s death, to be handed over to a grand jury.
Dummitt is being charged with first degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence, her bond was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 property. She was released after from a juvenile facility after bonding out, according to Greenup County Circuit Court staff.
Both Dummit and Ratliff will appear before a grand jury at a later date.
Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.
