Jerry Dale 'J.D.' Robertson, a 47-year-old male, was shot and killed on Sunday, September 23, 2018, in Allensville, Kentucky. The events leading to his death began over contentious Facebook posts. Robertson had reportedly made posts alleging that his ex-girlfriend, Brandi Scruggs, and her new boyfriend, Daniel Westbrook, were involved in trafficking heroin.
On the day of the shooting, a plan was devised to confront Robertson about the posts. Scruggs picked Robertson up from his home in Guthrie, with the stated purpose of offering him heroin in exchange for deleting the social media posts. As they drove along Stateline Road, a pickup truck carrying four other individuals intercepted their vehicle. The occupants of the truck were Daniel Westbrook, Douglas Cropper, Timmie Latham, and Faith Martin.
An altercation ensued, during which there was an exchange of gunfire. Robertson, who was armed, reportedly fired two shots, with at least one striking the pickup truck. Douglas Cropper had supplied a handgun to Daniel Westbrook, who then shot Robertson three times. The fatal wounds were to his upper neck, elbow, and torso. After the shooting, all five individuals fled the scene in the pickup truck, leaving Robertson to die at the scene. An investigation led by the Kentucky State Police resulted in the arrest of all five individuals.
Daniel Westbrook, the alleged shooter, was initially charged with murder. The other four, Brandi Scruggs, Douglas Cropper, Timmie Latham, and Faith Martin, faced charges of complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence. In October 2019, four of the suspects reached plea deals. Douglas Cropper pleaded guilty to first-degree wanton endangerment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Brandi Scruggs and Timmie Latham also pleaded guilty to first-degree wanton endangerment. Faith Martin pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence for her role in hiding the pickup truck after the shooting and disposing of the murder weapon.
In February 2020, Daniel Westbrook pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. The Commonwealth's Attorney stated that a lack of evidence to prove intent to murder, and evidence suggesting Robertson fired his weapon first, led to the plea agreement. Throughout the legal proceedings, Robertson's mother expressed her profound grief and sense that justice had not been fully served, questioning why none of the suspects called for help if they claimed self-defense.
