Lexington Mother Sentenced to Prison for the Stabbing Death of Her 2 Children

A Lexington mother has been incarcerated for 20 years after being found guilty of taking the lives of her own children, a legal situation that was among the numerous cases resolved by the Fayette County Circuit Court in June 2024. As plea deals increase in popularity, there has been a distinct decrease in the frequency of court trials.

The Distressing Case of Nikki James

Previously charged with two counts of murder, Nikki James pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter on June 10th. Children aged 5 and 13 lost their lives at their Rogers Road apartment in a fatal stabbing by their mother, says the court testimony in the case.

Her sentence, handed down by Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell, is 10 years for each count, amounting to two decades in prison, according to court documents.

Mental Illness Scope in the Case

James was arrested in May 2022 when police responded to a distress call from her apartment and found her covered in blood. According to the previous court testimonials, their immediate discovery was James’ children, Skyler and Deon, with multiple stab wounds in the apartment. Both were pronounced dead in the hospital by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. The plea deal came after two psychiatrists revealed James was experiencing psychosis at the time of the crimes.

Bonnie Potter, the attorney representing James, stresses that her client hopes that her circumstances will shed light on mental illness and will encourage other women who struggle with similar issues to seek early assistance.

A Sentence of Life in Prison

In a separate case, William “Bill” Parker Brown, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Ava Creech, a Lexington woman in 2020.

Prosecutors explained that Ava Creech, 62, was suffocated and her body concealed in a closet. She had been bound with duct tape and had paper towels forced down her throat. Police didn’t locate her body until October 2, even though she died on September 11, 2020.

Brown was found guilty for murder, receiving stolen property, and possession of a handgun as a felon. Due to his prior felony offender status, the secondary charges were escalated, as revealed by court documents.

Despite the grave nature of these cases, the family members of the victims can find some peace knowing justice has been served in Fayette County.