Kentucky State Police Investigates Death

PINE KNOT, Ky. (March 30, 2023) –On March 29, 2023, Kentucky State Police, Post 11, London received a call for assistance from McCreary County Sheriff’s Office with a fatal house fire. The structure fire occurred on Johns Road in Pine Knot. Once the fire was extinguished, investigators located a male victim unidentifiable human remains of a male victim.

The remains were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification. The person was identified as Phillip A. Hays, 57 years old of Pine Knot. Hays was a Retired Kentucky State Trooper. He graduated from Cadet Class #72 and retired in 2013 From Post 11 London.

Kentucky State Police was assisted by McCreary County Sheriff’s Department, McCreary County Coroner’s Office and Pine Knot Fire, and Department, State Fire Marshal’s Office.

This incident remains under investigation by Kentucky State Police Detective Matthew Parmley.