Pulaski County Defendant Accused of Fatally Shooting Father and Grandfather Expected to Enter New Plea

Austin Prather is expected to change his plea Wednesday in the 2023 murders of his father and grandfather in Science Hill, Kentucky.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEX 18

A Turning Point in a Domestic Tragedy

The legal proceedings surrounding a 2023 double homicide in Science Hill are reaching a critical juncture as the defendant prepares for a new court appearance. Austin Prather, who was previously charged with the killings of two direct generations of his family, is slated to appear in Pulaski County court this Wednesday. Court documents indicate that Prather intends to change his initial plea, a move that could significantly alter the trajectory of the high profile criminal case. The decision comes nearly two and a half years after the original incident sent shockwaves through the small Kentucky community.

The Violent Events of November 2023

The charges stem from a November 2023 shooting that decimated the Prather family household. According to investigators, Austin Prather shot and killed his 67 year old grandfather, Ardyth Prather Jr., and his 43 year old father, Ardyth Prather III. The violence was not contained to the deceased, as law enforcement officials also discovered Prather’s grandmother at the scene suffering from serious physical injuries. The scale of the violence prompted an immediate regional manhunt as the suspect fled the immediate vicinity before he could be questioned by local deputies.

Capture and Initial Legal Maneuvers

Following the shooting, Prather successfully eluded Kentucky authorities by crossing state lines, leading to a multi state search effort. He was eventually located and apprehended in Indiana, where he was held before being extradited back to Pulaski County to face the local judiciary. In December 2023, during his first formal appearance following the arrest, Prather entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. This week’s scheduled change suggests that a resolution may be in sight, potentially through a negotiated agreement with the Commonwealth’s Attorney.