Attorney General Coleman Announces Temporary Designation of Commonwealth's Attorney, Following Death of Mike Stacy

FRANKFORT, KY (May 6, 2025) – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today he designated Carrie Ovey-Wiggins—Commonwealth's Attorney for the 56^th Judicial Circuit in Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties—to temporarily serve as Special Commonwealth's Attorney for the 1^st Judicial Circuit in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman.

The designation follows the tragic passing of longtime Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Stacy.

Stacy died Tuesday, April 29, in Hickman County, following a car crash.  He was the Ballard County Attorney from 1994 to 2006 and earned the Outstanding County Attorney award in 2000.  From 2006 until his death, he served as Commonwealth's Attorney for the 1^st Judicial Circuit. He won the Outstanding Commonwealth's Attorney Award in 2011, served as President of the statewide association and was recognized for his lifetime of service with the Redford Award for Outstanding Kentucky Prosecutor in 2024.

Ovey-Wiggins will be supported by two Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys, a Commonwealth's Detective, a Victim's Advocate and an administrative assistant already serving in the office. The Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Unit will also provide support. Ovey-Wiggins has agreed to serve in this capacity until the Governor makes an appointment, or the voters elect a new Commonwealth's Attorney.

"Carrie Ovey-Wiggins has an incredible reputation, work ethic and dedication to the people of West Kentucky. I am grateful for her willingness to take on this additional responsibility," said Attorney General Coleman. "We are committed to coming alongside Carrie and the Office to protect the families of the River Counties as their felony prosecutors."

Ovey-Wiggins is now in her second term as Commonwealth's Attorney in the 56^th Judicial Circuit, a post her father, G.L. Ovey, held for 27 years. Previously, she served the office as the assistant Commonwealth Attorney. Ovey-Wiggins currently serves on the Prosecutors Advisory Council and has served as the President, Vice President and Secretary of the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association and served on the Kentucky Multidisciplinary Commission on Child Sexual Abuse and as President of the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO).  She is a past recipient of the Sword of Justice Award from the Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association, which is an award that honors a prosecutor for ceaseless dedication to the pursuit of justice.

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