BREAKING NEWS: Man found killed in apartment

Local News

November 7, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS and HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writers The Commonwealth Journal Sat Nov 07, 2009, 06:55 PM EST

Somerset Police are investigating an apparent murder that took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Homer Carrender, 72, a resident of Pleasant Hill Apartments on McKee Road, was discovered dead by Somerset Police Officers at approximately 1:44 a.m. Saturday morning. No incident had been reported to 911 dispatch, but the situation caught the attention of officers while out on patrol when they discovered Carrender’s vehicle some distance away from his home.

“Patrol officers were trying to ascertain from the victim why his vehicle was located at an odd area at an odd time,” said Somerset Police Detective Shannon Smith.

When Carrender didn’t answer his door, those officers asked for assistance from the apartment’s maintenance staff to gain entry into Carrender’s home. It was then that they discovered his body.

The initial investigation showed Carrender had been the victim of a homicide, and Carrender was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 2:30 am. by Chief Deputy Coroner Jim McWhorter.

Smith said Officer Matthew Gates first discovered the vehicle, which eventually led to the discovery of Carrender.

According to McWhorter, an autopsy revealed that Carrender had received several stab wounds, and that he had received two lethal stab wounds to the center of his chest. There was also evidence that Carrender had received blunt force trauma injuries to the head and face.

McWhorter said it appeared Carrender died as a result of his injuries several hours before he arrived on the scene.

Smith said they have identified a person of interest in the case, but he declined to release that person’s identity, stating the investigation is still in its early stages.

“There are a lot of details that I’m just not willing to release just yet because it’s a complicated case, one, and two, some specific details are vital to the investigation that releasing those details may compromise the case,” Smith said.

When asked whether authorities anticipated an arrest within the next 24 hours, Smith could only say he was confident enough evidence will be compiled to bring an end to the investigation.

“I’m optimistic that we will get to the bottom of this, whether that’s today or later,” Smith said, noting that a “quality case comes first, and not a quick arrest.”

Smith was able to confirm that Carrender did not die as a result of a domestic dispute. Carrender resided alone in the apartment.

Read more in Sunday's Commonwealth Journal.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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