By Brian Smith
A Berea man charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife will be arraigned Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
Hugh Philip Skidmore III, 45, was indicted in early December on a charge of murder for the Aug. 24 shooting death of his wife, 52-year-old Kimberly Skidmore.
The shooting took place around 2:45 a.m. at the couple’s home in the 300 block of Forest Street, where Berea police found Kimberly Skidmore dead of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Philip Skidmore had called 911 to report the shooting, saying a single shot had been fired, and police recovered a .45-caliber handgun at the scene.
Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison pronounced Kimberly Skidmore dead at the scene, and an autopsy was performed later the same day in Frankfort which confirmed she died of injuries caused by the shooting.
Berea police declined to comment on whether any domestic violence complaints involving the couple had been filed prior to the shooting. A search of court records uncovered several past domestic violence complaints filed by other women involving Skidmore that had been dismissed.
Skidmore had waived a preliminary hearing in the case in October in Madison District Court. He also was evaluated by doctors from the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center prior to that October hearing, and his lawyer, Lexington attorney Jim Lowery, asked the court at that hearing to ensure Skidmore was receiving his medication as prescribed.
Skidmore had worked for the city of Berea as a codes enforcement inspector for eight years, but had been on active miliary duty leave for approximately three years before his arrest, city officials said.
If convicted, Skidmore could face life in prison. The arraignment is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
