Judge denies request to reduce NKY murder suspect's bond

BURLINGTON, Ky. - A judge denied the request to reduce the bond for the man accused of killing a Northern Kentucky woman at a Florence business.

David Dooley is charged with murdering his former co-worker Michelle Mockbee at Thermo-Fischer Scientific in May as well as kidnapping, and tampering with physical evidence in the case.

The 38-year-old appeared in court Thursday afternoon and requested a judge reduce his $500,000 bond. The judge denied Dooley's request, who is currently being held at the Boone County Jail.

Mockbee had worked at the Florence business for more than a decade, and Dooley was the janitor at the location.

The company is a distribution center of laboratory equipment.

Boone County Commonwealth's Attorney Linda Tally Smith says when a defendant faces a combination of murder and kidnapping charges it can result in a possible death penalty case. Under Kentucky law, Smith says an aggregated murder charge and mitigated circumstances must be further reviewed and more evidence would have to be collected.

No decision has been made to pursue the death penalty at this time.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for updates as they become available.