A Kentucky dentist and his son were arrested after a woman was found dead in the dentist's home, prompting the woman's family to file a lawsuit against the police for their handling of the case.

The Kentucky dentist and his son are accused of a crime after an employee at their family restaurant was discovered dead in the older man's home.

Now, the woman's family is searching for answers.

On June 18, 2023, in the Prestonsburg home of dentist Michael McKinney II, 56, Amber Spradlin, 39, was discovered dead with multiple stab wounds to the head and neck.

Josh Mullins, a 23-year-old man, and McKinney II have both pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with evidence at the scene of her death. Court records indicate that the Kentucky dentist was released after posting $250,000 bail.

Michael McKinney III, the dentist's son, was arrested on July 30 and indicted for murder and evidence tampering. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail.

On Aug. 14, court documents revealed that all three men were charged with an additional count of evidence tampering.

Lawyers for the McKinneys could not immediately be reached for comment.

The McKinneys and Mullins allegedly destroyed evidence after Spradlin's murder, including bloody clothing, the knife handle, and a security camera that could have captured the woman's murder.

The accusation claims that the three men planted a knife in the couch where Spradlin was killed, implying it was the murder weapon.

A civil lawsuit has been filed by Spradlin's family against the county, city of Prestonsburg, its police department, McKinney and his son, Mullins, the Seasons Inn Motel and Restaurant, and numerous others.

The lawsuit claims that law enforcement was negligent and obstructed justice by failing to conduct a welfare check on Spradlin after two emergency calls were made. It also alleges that the Prestonsburg Police Department did not adequately train its 911 dispatchers and that Spradlin's murder was not reported until after an attempt was made to cover up the crime.

NBC News reported that the reasons behind Spradlin's death are still unclear, and no possible motive has been disclosed by authorities yet.

Debbie Hall's cousin informed NBC that the woman had been working as a hostess at a restaurant owned by the McKinney family in the weeks leading up to her death. The last time Hall spoke to her cousin was the day before she passed away.

On June 17 at 11:30 p.m., Hall texted Spradlin asking about the hostess's safety after work. Spradlin replied that she was still working, and Hall advised her to be careful while going home, according to NBC's report.

The lawsuit claims that Spradlin accompanied the McKinney father and son from another restaurant to the elder McKinney's home after her shift, where the younger McKinney was allegedly heavily drinking with another man accused in the wrongful death suit who does not face any criminal charges.

Between 5 and 5:30 the next morning, a 911 call was made from the dentist's residence, as per Floyd County Judge-Executive Robbie Williams' statement to NBC News.

Another person on the call with McKinney III claimed that no emergency response was necessary, according to Williams.

The family's lawsuit claims that the caller requested assistance in removing an unknown drunk individual from their home. When the dispatcher stated that authorities could only intervene if the person was experiencing a medical emergency, a threat to themselves or others, the caller asserted that the individual had a cut from falling.

Ross Shurtleff, the current police chief of Prestonsburg, informed NBC that another individual called in, stating "he has a minor injury - everything is under control."

According to the lawsuit, the younger McKinney contacted former Prestonsburg Police Chief Randy Woods later that morning in a second call, allegedly to obscure a potential investigation. The lawsuit claims that if the former chief had taken prompt remedial action, Spradlin may have survived.

After confirming to NBC, McKinney II dialed 911 again five hours after the initial call, and law enforcement found Spradlin dead upon arrival.

Wood resigned from the department shortly after Spradlin's murder, citing an unrelated shooting incident in which three law enforcement officers were killed.

The Prestonsburg Police Department and Tiger Woods could not be reached for comment by Planet Chronicle Digital.

The Spradlin family continues to advocate for justice in Amber's case over a year after her murder. Their Facebook group has gained a large following and they have placed billboards around Prestonsburg featuring Amber's face and the message "Justice for Amber."