LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Victoria Strelsky is going to have to stand trial on charges of murder, forgery, and evidence tampering. A grand jury in Laurel County indicted the Commonwealth’s only suspect in connection to the September shooting death of local business executive, Bryan McCarty. McCarty and Strelsky were in a relationship at the time of his death.
“She is looking forward to her day in court,” said attorney Paul Croley. “Obviously this is a case that’s garnered a lot of attention and we haven’t seen any evidence to this point, which would suggest her guilt,” he continued.
Mr. Croley appeared with Strelsky in Laurel County Circuit Court to acknowledge receipt of the formal indictment, and to request a bond reduction. It’s something for which Mr. Croley argued previously. But the Commonwealth made a case for an increase in bond from $500,000 to $750,000, and the judge agreed.
“We’re hoping he’ll reconsider that at some point,” Croley said, after insisting his client is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.
During testimony earlier this year, police say they found .22 caliber shell casings at McCarty’s home where they found his body, and that a search of Strelsky’s electronic devices turned up evidence that she had been doing research on that same type of weapon.
“All of the evidence presented during the preliminary hearing was circumstantial,” Mr. Croley said.
LEX 18 exchanged text messages with a friend of McCarty’s after the indictment was handed down. Bill Chasteen wrote, “Her going to prison for life won’t bring my best friend back. I think about him every day. Sometimes I think I see him.”
Croley, however, isn’t so sure a life sentence is in the cards for Strelsky.
“There is no direct proof that she did anything that they’ve alleged. We’re very eager to get to trial in the case,” he said.
Strelsky is scheduled to return to court on July 13.
