Kentucky murder suspect to enter guilty but mentally ill plea

RICHMOND, Ky. (WYMT/WKYT) - The man charged in a high-profile murder in Madison County plans to plead guilty.

Thursday morning, Shannon Gilday was in court to be arraigned on murder and attempted murder charges.

Police say Gilday killed Jordan Morgan after breaking into her father’s home in February.

In court, Gilday’s attorney filed a motion to enter a plea of guilty but mentally ill in the case.

“What Vince did, it’s not ordinary. There’s no reason to treat this like every other case. Because it shouldn’t,” Tom Griffiths, Gilday’s Attorney, said.

A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for Monday morning.

Wesley Morgan indicated the family would not be in favor of any guilty plea or any easier way for Gilday to get out of imprisonment.

The prosecutor does not want the court to accept the plea, saying it will cause problems down the road.

“My fear is that because the commonwealth would ask for a sentencing hearing, where life, life without the possibility of parole, or death, would be on the table,” Jennifer Smith, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, said.

Gilday is also facing other charges in a separate case, where he’s accused of assaulting a corrections officer.