(NewsNation) — Newly released security footage shows the moments before Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines allegedly shot and killed Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge’s chambers.
Behavior analyst and body language expert Scott Rouse told “Banfield” on Wednesday that the footage shows several behavioral clues from both the sheriff and the judge throughout the video.
According to Rouse, when Stines enters the judge’s chambers, his body language is tight, and he’s constantly moving and pacing. Then, he performs what Rouse refers to as a “threat check.”
“When he turns around and looks, that threat check is to make sure it’s okay, that he can do something, that there’s nobody there,” Rouse explained. “The sheriff walked through the door and he checked out there to make sure everything’s cool. Then he shuts the door.”
Kentucky judge ‘trying to look relaxed’ in footage: Behavior analyst
While Mullins initially appears calm, Rouse believes the judge senses something was off. He points out that Mullins’ posture is stiff, suggesting hidden tension.
“Nothing moves on him except his head,” Stines said. “He’s trying to look relaxed, that’s what that looks like. We know that because of how stiff his arms are, they’re straight. When he puts that food in his mouth, his head goes back a little bit too far. His arms are stiff. His movements aren’t smooth.”
Later in the video, Stines is seen drawing a gun on Mullins, prompting the judge to raise his hands. At that moment, Rouse noted profound behavior change.
“He’s sort of angled himself away from him. When the hands go up, those are defensive moves; when he puts his hand up,” Rouse said. That’s what people do when they’re trying to get someone to calm down. Those hands come up and they start patting, in other words, patting down; patting the air down.”