Man charged in Kentucky trooper’s death enters not guilty plea
Branch appeared before Warren Circuit Judge J.B. Hines, marking his first appearance in circuit court since a Warren County grand jury indicted him.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Emonnie Branch, 51, who is accused of fatally shooting Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips during a Sept. 28 traffic stop in Warren County, pleaded not guilty Tuesday during an arraignment.
Branch appeared before Warren Circuit Judge J.B. Hines, marking his first appearance in circuit court since a Warren County grand jury indicted him.
The grand jury indicted Branch three days after he was charged in connection with Phillips’ death. He faces charges of murder of a first responder, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and tampering with physical evidence.
Murder of a first responder is a capital offense in Kentucky. A conviction could carry the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of probation or parole.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Kori Beck Bumgarner has not announced whether her office intends to seek the death penalty.
Brennan Crain
During Tuesday’s hearing, Hines granted a defense motion seeking to preserve evidence related to the case.
Filed Oct. 16 by Sara Zeurcher of the Department of Public Advocacy, the motion asks prosecutors to preserve evidence for the defense, including physical and forensic evidence, recordings, electronic data, investigative records and witness statements.
The defense argued that preserving the evidence is necessary to protect Branch’s constitutional rights and prepare his defense, including allowing for independent testing where permitted. Zeurcher and Ty Howorth are listed as defense counsel.
Barrenside media partner WBKO reported that Branch stood during Tuesday’s court appearance, unlike in previous appearances when he was in a wheelchair.
In a phone call obtained by Barrenside through a public records request to the Warren County Regional Jail, Branch said he injured his back when officers removed him from his vehicle on the day of the shooting. He also referred to previous back problems.
Branch is scheduled to return to court Feb. 12, 2027, for a pretrial conference.
The investigation
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into Phillips’ death.
KSP previously said investigators used Flock cameras and other technology to track Branch as he traveled north following the shooting.
According to the complaint warrant, investigators later found a shell casing in the back seat and blood on the passenger side of the vehicle where Branch was arrested.
Brennan Crain
KSP and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also seen conducting searches along I-65 near the shooting scene, the interchange of the interstate and Cumberland Parkway and at Mammoth Cave National Park in the days following the shooting.
Authorities have not publicly explained why those areas were relevant to the investigation. KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said investigators were continuing to work to recover evidence in the case.
Phillips had served with Kentucky State Police for three years. He also served with the Glasgow Police Department before becoming a trooper. He was a Barren County resident and leaves behind a wife and three children.
