(WKYT) – The attorney representing a mother and son arrested in connection with a 1992 disappearance said he does not believe the facts support murder charges against his clients.
Attorneys Ephraim Helton and his partner Evan Rice are representing Barbara and Anthony Manning. The mother and son were arrested May 20 in connection with the disappearance of Anthony’s wife, Anna Manning.
Anthony Manning is facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. Barbara is facing complicity charges.
“But based upon what we’ve learned at this point, we do not believe the facts support murder,” Helton said.
Investigation and discovery of remains
Helton said that, through interviews, his team found out where on Spring Valley Road the body was buried. He said on Sunday evening that he shared that information with the commonwealth’s attorney.
“There’d been digging at this property previously, and there’d been a lot of digging; they had not found the body until we provided the location of where the body would be found,” Helton said.
The Boyle County Sheriff’s Office confirmed human remains were found near Spring Valley Road on Monday, but the remains have not been confirmed as those of Anna Manning.
Investigators zeroed in on a home near the Lincoln-Boyle County line. The area was searched 10 years ago, but nothing was found.
Defense claims and challenges
Helton said because the case dates back to 1992, many witnesses are dead, eliminating potential evidence.
“So those fact witnesses, even if they’ve given statements or could’ve given statements if their deceased it won’t come into evidence because we can’t cross examine those statements,” Helton said.
Helton said although cell phones, text messages and social media were not factors in 1992, they are now. He believes this is part of the reason his clients are suspects.
“In today’s world, again because of social media people get vilified really quick the rumor mills out there real quick,” Helton said.
Helton said he does not believe Barbara Manning was aware of anything.
Both of the Mannings are being held in the Boyle County Detention Center, each on a $2 million bond. Both are scheduled to make their first court appearance on June 15.