Beech Tree News Network

4/26/13 UPDATE: Jason E. Britt pled guilty on Monday to causing the death of a Butler County man with a crossbow last October.  Britt entered a guilty plea in Warren Circuit Court to a charge of second degree manslaughter in the death of Ronnie Lee of O. J. Basham Road.  According to police, Britt shot Lee with a compound bow in Warren County, then drove Lee to his home in Butler County and dumped him there.  Britt was sentenced to 10 years, which will be served consecutively with a 12 year sentence he is already serving for manufacturing methamphetamine in Ohio County.  Britt is lodged in the Green River Correctional Complex in Muhlenberg County.

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UPDATE:  According to officials Ronald Lee was shot with an arrow in Warren County and then transported to Butler County.  Preliminary investigation indicated that it was not an intentional homicide, thus the charge of manslaughter.

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Officers with Kentucky State Police Post 3 have arrested Jason Britt, 35, of Bowling Green, in connection with last weekend's death of Ronald D. Lee, 51, of Morgantown.  Lee was found at his O. J. Basham Road residence with an injury caused by what appears to be a compound bow, rather than a crossbow as originally reported.  He later died at Vanderbilt University Hospital.  Britt, who was initially arrested on Monday for drug charges, was also being sought for questioning in the death of Ronald Lee.  

Britt was arrested this afternoon, Wednesday, October 26 at around 4:15 p.m. and charged with manslaughter (second degree).  According to KSP Detective Chad Winn, Britt "wantonly caused the death of Ronald Lee by shooting him with a compound bow while under the influence of methamphetamine."

Sharon Britt, also arrested on Monday for unrelated charges, has been questioned by police about the incident, though no charges have been filed against her pertaining to Lee's death.

Jason Britt was taken to the Warren County Regional Jail.  

The investigation is still ongoing. 

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FOLLOW-UP:  Law enforcement officers have located a man and woman wanted for questioning relating to the death of Ronald D. Lee on Saturday.  Jason Emanual Britt, 35, and Sharon Elizabeth Britt, 26, were found in Ohio County.  Jason Britt is charged with being a persistent felony offender (first degree) and manufacturing methamphetamine (first offense). Sharon Britt is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine (first offense).  Both were arrested and lodged in the Butler County Jail. 

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UPDATE:  Police are still looking for Jason and Sharon Britt in connection to an incident on Saturday that resulted in the death of a Butler County man, Ronald D. Lee, 51.  According to the Kentucky State Police, the black BMW the duo were possibly driving was discovered at a residence off of Barren River Road in Warren County.  Police are still searching for Jason and Sharon Britt.   

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ORIGINAL STORY (edited):  A man is dead following an incident Saturday afternoon, October 22, at a residence at 16 O. J. Basham Road  in  Butler County.  Ronald D. Lee, age 51, of Morgantown, was apparently shot by an arrow from a crossbow.   He was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Hospital last night where he late succumbed to his injuries during surgery.  

Multiple officers with Kentucky State Police Post 3 (Bowling Green) and the Butler County Sheriff's Department were on the scene investigating the incident yesterday afternoon after Butler County Dispatch received a call at around 6:30 p.m.  According to Butler County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Reneer, who was the first officer to arrive at the scene, the initial dispatch indicated that a man may have accidentally shot himself with a crossbow while attempting to unload it.  Consequently, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife was notified.  Upon arrival at the scene, Deputy Reneer observed that the incident may not have been as it was first reported.  Therefore, Reneer contacted the Kentucky State Police for assistance and multiple officers responded.  

Two subjects  - Jason Britt and an unidentified female (who possible goes by the first name of Sharon) — are being sought by the Kentucky State Police for questioning.  The pair could be driving a black BMW with orange racing stripes.    

KSP Detective Brad Stevenson is in charge of the investigation.

Kentucky State Police Post 3 can be reached at 1-800222-5555 or 270-782-2010 if anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of the two individuals.