Bourbon County burglary ends with homeowner dead, suspect charged with murder
A homeowner is dead, and a man is charged with murder after a fatal burglary in Bourbon County Wednesday morning.
The incident happened shortly after 3 a.m. at a garage on Ruddles Mill Road. Bourbon County Sheriff Tony Asbury said first-arriving deputies found the homeowner unresponsive on the ground near the entrance of the garage and attempted life-saving measures.
The homeowner was taken to a hospital, where they later died, according to court documents. The homeowner’s identity and cause of death weren’t provided.
Asbury said the homeowner got into a fight with Timothy Mitchell, 40, of Paris, after discovering Mitchell on the property. Officials found a bag that belonged to Mitchell on scene, and inside the bag was a battery hand drill.
Investigators determined Mitchell used the drill to unscrew the siding of the garage to break inside, according to court documents. Investigators also discovered Mitchell had multiple fireworks.
Mitchell was arrested on scene and charged with murder, first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and public intoxication. Court documents say it’s believed he was under the influence of drugs during the incident.
No other information about the incident was provided by Asbury. Mitchell is being held at the Bourbon County Detention Center without a bond.
Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Bourbon District Court, according to court records.
Mitchell is currently on probation for pleading guilty to theft and criminally possessing a forged instrument in 2025. Kentucky Department of Corrections records say he began his five-year probation term in March 2025.
Mitchell also previously served two years in prison for violating a separate probation term more than 10 years ago. In December 2010, Mitchell pleaded guilty to theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of marijuana and third-degree criminal mischief and was sentenced to five years of probation in January 2011, but he violated the terms of his probation in November 2015 and was ordered to serve two years in prison, according to court records.
