Lucas Goodrum, 23, of Scottsville spent nearly two years in jail before a jury decided that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the murder of Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry. Many Western students and faculty said they weren’t surprised by the verdict.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron said he doesn’t plan to pursue any additional suspects in the criminal case. But there are still other legal issues to be resolved in other areas regarding the death of Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry in May 2003.

Freedom is often called a rite of passage in college. But not knowing how to handle that unbridled time often leads to vulnerability among college students. Vulnerability – when mixed with alcohol, drugs, and free time – can impair decision making, leading to crimes such as rape, robbery and homicide, experts say.

OWENSBORO – Three hours of jury deliberation ended a three-week trial and set a Scottsville man free after a two-year imprisonment. A jury of nine men and three women found Lucas B. Goodrum, 23, not guilty last week of murdering Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry in May 2003.

For two years, Virginia White has made sure to tell her daughters and niece that she loves them every day. She began the ritual when her niece, Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry, was killed in Poland Hall in May 2003. “We don’t take each other for granted,” White said.

OWENSBORO – It was the little things in life Lucas B. Goodrum, 23, of Scottsville said he missed while in jail for almost two years. Walking around outside, spending time with family, enjoying life as a free man. But Goodrum will get to experience those little things again now that a jury has found him not guilty of murdering Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry.

Jurors expressed two main reasons for finding Lucas B. Goodrum, 23, of Scottsville not guilty last week of murdering Pellville freshman Melissa “Katie” Autry. Besides the lack of physical evidence, some jurors said they believed campus police should have done more in their investigation of the student’s death.