Five Arrested in Connection to a Harlan County Death and Sex Trafficking Case

From The Bell County Sheriff's Department/USMS -

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and Wednesday, the 2^nd, in coordination with a multi-agency operation, Bell County Detective Hunter Luttrell carried out several arrests in connection with the death of a man, Bobby Smith, whose brother, Darrell Carnahan, was arrested in July for multiple sex offenses.  Prior to this, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, United States Marshal Service personnel apprehended Landon Pace. 

At around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, Harlan County Sheriff’s Sgt. Caleb Carmical, Deputy Jesse Howard, and Loyall PD Officer Ben Pace responded to a residence to serve three warrants while conducting a joint federal investigation in the Loyall community. After making entry into the residence, all three subjects were located.

An investigation revealed that 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, with power of attorney for his brother, 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.

It has been determined that all three destroyed evidence by burning it. They also concealed a cellular phone and deleted content regarding drug-related digital evidence about a third party. Tonya Monroe was found in possession of Smith’s food and debit card, and it was determined that the text messages reflect a direct monetary gain from Bobby’s Smith’s death.

While investigators have not disclosed the contents of evidence recovered during the execution of the search warrant, they believe what was found directly relates to the charges.

Another woman, Star Halcolmb, was charged with tampering with physical evidence. 

In connection with this case, also arrested Wednesday morning 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.

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.