On March 23, 2018, the lives of three individuals were tragically cut short in the 292 community of Martin County, Kentucky, near the Pike and Martin County line. Among them was Micah Sammons, a 20-year-old male. He, along with 26-year-old Derek Lee James, was discovered deceased at the scene, both victims of fatal gunshot wounds. A third victim, 31-year-old Amber Lockard, was found critically wounded and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The investigation into the triple
homicide began immediately, led by the Kentucky State Police. In the days following the discovery, Amber Lockard succumbed to her injuries and passed away in the hospital. A significant lead in the case emerged when Lockard's missing vehicle was located in West Virginia a day after her death. The unfolding investigation pointed detectives toward a primary suspect who was already incarcerated in West Virginia on charges unrelated to the murders.
In May 2018, a Martin County Grand Jury returned an indictment for Lance J. Ward, then 28, of Williamson, West Virginia. He was charged with three counts of murder and two counts of first-degree robbery in connection with the deaths of Sammons, James, and Lockard. Initially, Ward pleaded not guilty to the charges. The father of Micah Sammons expressed his belief that Ward did not act alone and revealed that he had received letters from Ward in which Ward claimed Micah was like a brother to him.
After initially denying his involvement, Lance Ward's case took a significant turn. In early 2020, court officials reported that Ward had decided to change his plea to guilty on the three counts of murder. Prior to this change of plea, prosecutors had filed paperwork indicating their intent to seek the death penalty in the case. As part of the plea, the two robbery charges against Ward were dismissed.
