NKY murder suspect: 'They're wrong. I'm innocent'

BURLINGTON, Ky. - The man accused of murdering his co-worker broke his silence with the media, saying police have the wrong guy.

"They're wrong. I'm innocent," David Dooley said.

9 News Reporter Kendall Herold sat down with Dooley at the Boone County Jail Wednesday morning immediately after a judge cleared him to speak with the media. No cameras or recording devices were allowed during the interview.

Dooley said his time behind bars has been "terrible." He wanted to speak with the media to prove his innocence, Dooley added.

The 38-year-old is charged with murder, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence in the death of Michelle Mockbee. The Fort Mitchell mom was found dead in May at Thermo-Fischer Scientific in Florence, where she worked in the human resources department. Dooley worked there as a janitor.

9 News asked Dooley what his relationship was with Mockbee; he responded, "There wasn't one."

Dooley told 9 News he would see Mockbee at work a few times a week, but only spoke with her about human resources matters.

Dooley's wife, Janet, also worked as a janitor at the Florence office. He said Janet spoke with Mockbee more often, sharing stories about their kids and discussing things like shopping.

When asked where he was the morning Mockbee was found dead, Dooley said he was at work.

He went on to reveal he discovered Mockbee's body the morning of May 29. He told 9 News he was with another manager when they found her dead inside the building.

He wouldn't comment on the condition of Mockbee's body or how she was found. Police haven't released how she died, only saying they didn't find a murder weapon at the scene.

When asked what his reaction was to her death, Dooley responded, "I was stunned."

"I can't think of anyone that would do something like this," he added.

Dooley said he was interviewed by police the morning Mockbee was found dead, and thought he had been cleared as a suspect. He said he spoke with police for months before he was arrested.

He told 9 News he believes police charged him with murder because he was there when Mockbee's body was found, and because of his criminal past.

"I was immature, a thief," he said.

Dooley was sentenced to prison in 1994 for burglary and theft by deception in Campbell County. Dooley was paroled one year later, but was back behind bars in 1996 for receiving stolen property and possession of a handgun. He was paroled again in 1999. He said he was on parole until 2004.

Dooley says since then, he's cleaned up his act.

"I'm not the person they're saying I am," he said.

Dooley's attorney, Eric Deters says he received evidence in the case today from the Boone County Prosecutor's Office.

Dooley has another court date in December.