Suspect in brother-in-law’s slaying turns himself in at Fayette County jail

A man who was indicted on a murder charge in the death of his brother-in-law surrendered to authorities on Thursday, Lexington police said.

Willow Cherry, 45, turned himself in to the Fayette County jail, police said in a release.

Cherry was indicted Tuesday on charges of murder and tampering with evidence. He is accused in the February death of his brother-in-law, Peter Lian, 35, whose body has not been found.

The indictment said Cherry committed murder “when he intentionally assaulted” Lian and “thereby caused his death.”

Lexington police said Wednesday they had reclassified the missing person investigation to a homicide investigation.

Cherry was charged with evidence tampering in June but was later released from jail on a $4,000 bond.

Cherry is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 5 in Fayette Circuit Court.

This story was originally published September 27, 2018 at 11:37 AM.