Another wait for families as Brian Epperson trial faces possible delay

The federal trial of Brian Epperson, the man some families call “the Kentucky serial killer,” could be pushed to 2027.

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A federal judge is now weighing a request to delay the Brian Epperson trial, after Epperson’s attorney filed a motion last week asking to postpone the trial currently scheduled for next month.

Epperson is charged with killing multiple Kentucky women, and investigators say he used the same chilling technique on all.  Epperson was indicted by a federal grand jury for knowingly and intentionally distributing methamphetamine that resulted in the overdose deaths of Reacheal Dawson and Kristen Morris.

Defense attorney Andrew Sparks says his client hasn’t had enough time to go through the evidence against him. He is asking for a delay of at least 30 days, but also mentioned they would be happy to wait until after the holidays.

The discovery in this case totals more than 1.2 terabytes, according to court documents. It was handed over on a hard drive instead of on paper, so Epperson can only look at it when he has access to a computer. Sparks says that has been hard to come by in jail.

“To date he has had limited availability to review his discovery while incarcerated,” the motion states. The filing also notes what Epperson stands to lose. He faces a potential sentence of life in prison.

Federal charges filed against Brian Epperson- the man some are calling “the Kentucky serial killer”

A Kentucky man is now tied to the deaths of multiple local women, and investigators say he used the same chilling technique on all. “I’m Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here?

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What we know about the victims

According to Winchester Police Chief Travis Thompson, the women named in the federal indictment were in a consensual, romantic relationship with Epperson.

Kristen Morris

32-year-old Kristen Morris was found dead on May 31st in an Airbnb in Stanton, KY, which is about 115 miles east of Louisville, outside of Richmond. The Airbnb had been rented by Brian Epperson.

At first, her death was recorded as an apparent overdose.

But the Powell County Coroner noticed something unusual during her autopsy. Megan Wells-Curtis told me, "I treat every case as a possible murder because you never know."

She said it was obvious this wasn't a 'typical overdose'. So, the coroner started digging deeper. "She was a mother, we're talking about a parent, and I wanted her children to know she wouldn't have left them willingly," the coroner said.

Morris' toxicology levels were in excess of 57,000 nanograms of methamphetamine per milliliter of blood, which is "extremely high", according to Kentucky State Police.

The amount of meth in Morris' system raised red flags, and the coroner contacted Kentucky State Police to expand the investigation. She also collected evidence on the scene.

"She took a cell phone that belonged to the victim, Kristen Morris, some capsules that were filled with a crystal-like substance, which is what we believe to be crystal meth. Then she took a styrofoam plate and $1 bill that was rolled up and some open capsules," KSP Detective Brad Watson said during a July 15th court hearing.

Almost three months after her death, a grand jury indicted Epperson on a murder charge, finding he intentionally caused Morris' death when he provided her with a large quantity of methamphetamine.

The Powell County Grand Jury also indicted him on possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.

Reacheal Dawson

29-year-old Reacheal Dawson died about one month after Morris, according to investigators. She was discovered in a Red Roof Inn in Winchester, KY, which is about 25 minutes from Stanton, KY, on June 27th. This is the death that launched the Winchester Police investigation.

Dawson had been reported missing from her home in Irvine, KY, one day before she was discovered dead. A family member contacted police via dispatch on June 27th and told the call taker that Dawson was missing and her phone was pinging at the motel.

When officers got to the motel, they found Dawson's body in a hotel room that had been rented by Brian Epperson.

Winchester Police executed a search warrant on Epperson's truck and found "several capsules of meth", according to an arrest citation. Epperson told officers he bought the meth in Lexington and filled the capsules himself.

According to police, this death launched what would become a complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Reed took the lead on the investigation, coordinating efforts between Winchester PD and multiple agencies, including Kentucky State Police, the Lexington DEA field office, the Clark and Powell County Coroner's offices, and the 39th Judicial Circuit Commonwealth Attorney's Office of Powell County.

What happens next

This isn’t the first time Epperson’s trial has been pushed back. It was first scheduled for Feb. 2, 2026. In January, his previous attorney asked for 90 more days, citing audio and video files, cell phone extraction data and complex medical records. At the time, court filings also pointed to early plea discussions.

The “serial killer” label comes from families and community members, not from prosecutors. The charges against him are drug-distribution-resulting-in-death and murder.

For the families, each delay is another wait. April Stamper, whose friend Hilory Davis died in November 2024, has told me she will keep fighting for answers in Davis’s death. Davis’s case has not resulted in charges.

Epperson remains in federal custody.

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