In the late autumn of 2014, the small community of Albany, Kentucky, was unsettled by a grim discovery that would unravel a story of violence and a desperate attempt to flee justice. On Monday, November 24, 36-year-old Anthony W. Hargis was found deceased outside of the apartment where he resided on a property off Highway 1590. The property's owner's son came across the scene that afternoon and immediately contacted the authorities. It was apparent that Hargis, a male who worked as a caretaker on the property, had met a violent end, having been shot multiple times with what investigators believed to be a handgun.
The investigation, led by the Kentucky State Police, quickly zeroed in on two men: 38-year-old James D. Polston and 22-year-old Randall L. Wilkinson. The search for the two suspects culminated in a tense standoff the following day at a house trailer south of Albany. As law enforcement closed in, Wilkinson attempted to escape on foot but was apprehended. Polston, however, barricaded himself inside the residence, leading to a standoff that lasted for over two hours. The confrontation ended tragically when officers, after deploying tear gas, used a robot and camera to find Polston inside, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A 19-year-old woman, Desirea Riddle, was also present at the scene and was arrested.
In the subsequent months, the full scope of the events surrounding Hargis's death came to light through the legal process. In February 2015, a Clinton County Grand Jury handed down indictments against both Randall Wilkinson and Desirea P. Riddle for their alleged roles in the incident. Wilkinson faced a litany of charges, including first-degree robbery, for allegedly stealing from Hargis's body after he had been shot and killed by James D. Polston. He was also charged with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly concealing a shell casing and Hargis’s wallet, in addition to possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Desirea Riddle was indicted on a charge of first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension. The indictment alleged that she withheld information pertinent to the investigation into Anthony Hargis's murder and harbored Polston and Wilkinson while they were fleeing from law enforcement. Wilkinson was also charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and Riddle faced an additional charge for fleeing or evading police on foot. The indictments painted a picture of a desperate and brutal crime that cut short the life of Anthony Hargis and left a trail of further tragedy and serious legal repercussions for those involved.
