Judge sets $250,000 bond for woman charged in murder of Louisville jail officer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A woman charged in connection with the murder of Louisville jail officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning, as police continued searching for another suspect.

Kristy Brumley, 35, was arraigned and a $250,000 bond was set. She is being held at Oldham County Detention Center.

Michael Wehdah, 44, was found shot to death in the 2700 block of Cedar Street in the Russell neighborhood Feb. 16. He was a Liberian immigrant who gained citizenship in the U.S. in 2022.

Wehdah, who lived with his wife and teenage son, was enrolled in the Louisville Metro Corrections Academy last August and became an officer in November.

Earlier this week, Brumley admitted to Louisville Metro Police officers she was involved in his murder, according to an arrest citation. She told police she brought Wehdah to the location where the shooting occurred and "was present when the victim was shot by a known co-defendant."

She told police she took Wehdah's car and phone "for the purpose of concealing and or destroying evidence."

Brumley is charged with complicity to murder. The judge also said Brumley has several outstanding warrants in Pulaski County and at least one in Jefferson County.

It's not clear whether the motive of the shooting is related to his job at the jail, investigators said.

On Wednesday, LMPD investigators worked with MSD employees to search storm drains near the scene of Wehdah's murder. It's not clear what they were hoping to find.

Louisville Metro Corrections Chief Jerry Collins is expected to release more information about the case during a media briefing scheduled for 1 p.m. March 27.

If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673) or submit a tip on the anonymous Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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