A murder suspect currently the subject of an intense manhunt was previously convicted of killing his newborn son.
Kentucky State Police and Whitley County authorities have been searching for 38-year-old Nicholas Rucker, of Corbin, since Friday, May 24, when he was identified as a murder suspect in the death of his girlfriend, 57-year-old Vicki Conner.
Police say Rucker, considered armed and dangerous, shot Conner to death in the small Whitley County community of Woodbine on Wednesday night, May 22.
Since Rucker became a suspect, he was allegedly spotted entering an abandoned motel, the old Mountain View Lodge, in Corbin, but authorities did not locate anyone after searching the property. There have also been reported sightings of Rucker on a train in Tennessee.
Whitley County Sheriff Todd Shelley said he spotted Rucker the Monday following the murder, but he, along with several other members of law enforcement, were unable to capture the suspect as he fled on foot.
Rucker has additionally been featured on an episode of the popular A&E program Live PD.
Rucker was convicted in the 1998 shaking death of his three-month-old son, Kyle Rucker. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1999 but was released after serving 12 years.
Authorities in Knox County arrested Rucker in January on a drug charge and for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. He was released from the Knox County Detention Center in March, as it appears a grand jury did not indict him within 60 days of the charges being filed, according to WKYT.com.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
