The evidentiary hearing to determine whether Quincy Cross, convicted in the 2000 murder of 18-year-old Jessica Currin, should receive a new trial concluded Thursday, December 18, in Graves County Circuit Court.
The hearing spanned three days, November 25–26 and December 18, and centered on allegations that witnesses in Cross’ 2008 trial were coerced or intimidated by law enforcement into giving false testimony.
Thursday’s proceedings focused largely on testimony from former Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI) officers Robert O’Neill and Lee Wise, both of whom were accused by recanting witnesses of misconduct. Both men strongly denied all allegations.
O’Neill testified that he never threatened, paid, or instructed witnesses on what to say, emphasizing that fabricated testimony would not withstand scrutiny — especially from juvenile witnesses.
“A lie is not going to last,” O’Neill said. “My integrity and my career would be on the line. I would never do it.”
O’Neill also denied allegations of a sexual relationship with witness Victoria Caldwell, a claim that played a significant role in the judge’s decision to grant the evidentiary hearing. The Commonwealth introduced a recorded phone call in which Caldwell denied making that allegation.
Former KBI investigator Lee Wise also testified, denying accusations that he threatened witnesses or conducted interviews without recording them. Wise became visibly defensive during questioning, stating his professionalism had never been challenged in four decades of investigative work.
Defense attorney Amy Staples cross-examined Wise extensively, including allegations that Wise threatened witness Vinisha Stubblefield with lethal injection if she did not implicate Cross. Wise repeatedly said he did not recall making any such statements. Tensions escalated to the point that Special Judge Tyler Gill called a brief recess.
Additional testimony included Jessica Lindsay, a former girlfriend of witness Darryl Montgomery, who contradicted Montgomery’s earlier claim that he heard a jailhouse confession from another suspect. Lindsay testified Montgomery never told her about such a confession.
Also testifying via Zoom was Kenneth Nixon, affiliated with criminal justice reform group Safe & Just Michigan, who described interactions with Caldwell in 2023 and said she contacted O’Neill during their attempted meeting.
Following the conclusion of testimony, Judge Gill granted Cross’ defense team 60 days to file a brief, with the Commonwealth given 40 days to respond. Gill will then review the evidence and issue a decision on whether Cross will be granted a new trial at a later date.
