On the Beat in the Bluegrass

By Steve Lannen

slannen@herald-leader.com

The 18-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a 2-year-old girl told police that he dropped the child from a height about level with his shoulders before sexually assaulting her, according to testimony Friday in a court hearing.

A Fayette County grand jury will consider the case of Brian Crabtree.

Katelynn Stinnett’s mother and some other relatives listened as a police detective recounted his interview with Crabtree.

Lexington Police Sgt. Jesse Harris testified that Crabtree gave him a taped confession several hours after the alleged crimes occurred.

According to Harris, Crabtree said he gave Katelynn a bath on the afternoon of Nov. 25, at a Lexington apartment off Versailles Road. He then dropped her from a height of about his shoulders to the floor before raping her.

Katelynn’s mother, Angela Johns, cried quietly in the courtroom, and an aunt was heard gasping, “Oh my God.”

The child died of her injuries Dec. 3.

Crabtree’s public defender Sam Cox asked Harris if he knew that Crabtree has an IQ of just 68 or that Crabtree couldn’t read or write.

Harris said Crabtree said he had graduated from high school, and Harris didn’t question Crabtree further about his education.

Harris also said that Katelynn’s older brother, 3, was in the apartment at the time that Crabtree said he attacked Katelynn. The boy told investigators, according to Harris, “Brian hit sissy. Brian hit sissy.”

Crabtree was watching the children as their father and his roommate, Daniel Stinnett, worked. Stinnett returned home from work at a fire and disaster recovery company and found his daughter in a deep sleep, according to the children’s mother, who wasn’t living with them. Because it was around the child’s nap time, Stinnett didn’t think much about it and took her to a friend’s house.

When Katelynn wouldn’t wake up, he called his mother, and they went together to the hospital.

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