Jury Convicts Bingham Of Reckless Homicide In Deaths Of Children

Following nearly 4 ½ hours of deliberations Tuesday night, a jury of six men and six women found Cadiz woman Keyona Bingham not guilty on two counts of second-degree manslaughter — but instead guilty of two counts for reckless homicide — following an April 7, 2020, Cadiz house fire that claimed the lives of her children.

The jury, which had to arrive at its decision unanimously, recommended the maximum sentence available for the Class D felony: five years for each life, served consecutively for a total of 10 years with parole eligibility after 24 months.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins asked the jury to seek second-degree manslaughter in her closing statements, or in the very least reckless homicide, because of Bingham’s actions on that difficult day.

She said a choice was made to leave a 3-year-old boy in a high chair and a 7-month-old girl asleep on a couch at 194 Jefferson Street unattended for five or so proven minutes to visit her stepfather, Dave Gray, less than a mile away on Martindale to acquire a 5mg dose of Lortab to help with body aches and pains.

When Bingham returned to her residence, one that belonged to her grandmother, the children were already in trouble — and couldn’t be recovered despite repeated attempts from her and a handful of Samaritans.

Defense attorneys Mary Rohrer and Doug Moore ascertained that while Bingham’s choice was “regrettable” and something their client would forever have to deal with, it was a tragedy — an unthinkable tragedy.

The Commonwealth closed its case against Bingham in the morning, following a thorough discussion with Detective Michael Robichaud. He was responsible for acquiring footage from the Cadiz Housing Authority, showing timestamps and locations of Bingham’s cream-colored car. Further evidence was admitted under the Commonwealth, showing a disheveled interior of Bingham’s car and two carseats dormant from that day.

Jurors then heard from the defense, which included testimony from Bingham’s close friend Tashara Cavanaugh-Wynn, a passerby in Victor Acree, investigating KSP Detective and Sgt. Cory Hamby, and Bingham herself — who held the stand for at least a half hour.

Bingham testified that she twice tried to go in the house to rescue her children, to no avail, and suffered blisters, a melted wig and a burned arm. A rescue attempt from Acree was also fruitless, as smoke and flames quickly consumed the home.

Bingham also testified she couldn’t call 911 because, in the time she was gone, her phone had been left inside the home charging for battery power, and that in the chaos of a burning home, first response and friends and family approaching — she never took the Lortab, which requires a prescription.

Rohrer asked Bingham why she originally lied to KSP about her children being with her on the short jaunt to Gray’s house.

A cross-examination from Ovey-Wiggins further dove into Bingham’s decision.

Among Tuesday’s 12-hour court marathon, the defense delivered a motion of directed verdict — one that was seriously considered by Judge Jamus Redd, before its denial. It led to a powerful exchange between Ovey-Wiggins and Moore.

Bingham will be back in court at 10 AM September 9 to hear Redd’s sentencing.

Extra notes:

Four camera angles at the Cadiz Housing Authority showed Bingham at Gray’s house on Martindale from 1:15 PM to about 1:19 PM that April 7 afternoon. The first 911 call on the home, initiated by Pam Wilson, was logged a few seconds after 1:20 PM. Wilson testified Bingham was in the front yard when she made the call.
Bingham’s grandmother, Glendora, had moved from this home the night before the incident — at the behest of Bingham’s aunt. TVs were taken, as well. Through some investigations by Hamby, it was determined the Cadiz Water Department had received a call in the prior days to have the water cut off at the residence, but a March 30 call by an unknown female stayed that request.
That April 7, Bingham’s boyfriend — a Joshua Harris — had returned to work, for what Bingham said had been “about a year.”
In Acree’s testimony, he said he’d gotten off work early and had planned to go fishing. Driving by Jefferson Street, Bingham stopped him and asked for his help. Acree said he tried to get into the house, but flames and smoke were coming out of a sliding door in the back, as well as several windows.
Wynn testified that her friend, Bingham, was distraught that day. She picked her up, and noticed a fried wig and some other minor blemishes to Bingham. They went to Rockcastle, “on an old dirt road,” and then returned later in the afternoon.
Bingham’s testimony and cross-examination lasted nearly an hour with a short break between defense and the Commonwealth.
Bingham said she had lived in her grandmother’s house for about a year, and that her grandmother had been at the property since 1997-98. In that time, no house fire was reported at the residence.
Bingham said she suffered from back pain following a prior car accident and fall from a porch that had pinched some nerves. She said most of the care for these chronic pains was self, and that she had called her stepdad for help.

Ovey-Wiggins’ Closing Statements