Another Individual Arrested in Connection to a Murder in Harlan County
From The Big One -
As we have been reporting, several individuals have been arrested in connection with a case out of Harlan County and a subsequent case involving what happened afterward.
Multiple law enforcement officers, assisting Bell County Detective Hunter Luttrell in an investigation, arrested 69-year-old Darrell Carnahan of Loyall, Ky. in July. He is facing multiple sex-related charges, promoting prostitution (two or more victims), human trafficking - forced labor, engaging in organized crime, and several other offenses.
In early September, Detective Luttrell carried out several arrests in connection with the death of Bobby Smith, the brother of Darrell Carnahan. The arrests included Tonya Monroe, Cody Pace, Landon Pace, and Star Halcomb.
Friday, September 11, 2026. another woman - 22-year-old Hailey Gilbert of Corbin - was arrested by the Corbin Police Department on a Bell County warrant charging her with complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
The Bell County Sheriff's Department initially released an information about an investigation that revealed Carnahan had contacted Tonya Monroe, Cody Pace, and Landon Pace from the Bell County Detention Center, where he has been housed since his arrest. Carnahan asked the trio to reach out to witnesses and change their testimony against him.
Bobby Smith was a key witness against Carnahan in the sex trafficking case and was found deceased in Harlan the last week of August. Smith was not complying with requests to send money for bills and commissary for Carnahan at the jail.
Monroe and the Pace brothers had moved into Carnahan’s residence after he was arrested.
Through monitored jail text messages, investigators were able to establish the three had benefited financially and residentially from the death of Bobby Smith.
Star Halcomb, was charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Also arrested in connection to the original case was 31-year-old Joseph Jackson of Bell County with similar charges as Carnahan: human trafficking – commercial sex activity and engaging in organized crime.
Cody Pace, Landon Pace, and Starr Holcomb were lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center, while Tonya Monroe was moved to the Bell County Detention Center. Joseph Jackson was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center. Hailey Gilbert is booked in the Knox County Detention Center.
Landon Pace and Cody Pace have been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a witness in the legal process, and tampering with a witness.
Tonya Monroe has been charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, intimidating a witness in the legal process, tampering with a witness, theft - receipt of stolen debit card, fraudulent use of a credit card $1,000 < $10,000, and wanton abuse/neglect of adult by a person. Star Halcomb has been charged with intimidating a witness in the legal process and tampering with a witness.
The United States Marshal Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force led the apprehension, assisted by all local represented agencies.
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