MADISONVILLE, Ky. (WFIE) - A Madisonville man will likely spend the rest of his days in prison after murdering a woman and shooting a toddler.

Tuesday, Dennis Stone Jr. pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 30-year-old Nichole Merrell.

Additionally, the prosecutor’s office says he pled guilty to First-Degree Assault with a 10-year sentence, and to 12 counts of Wanton Endangerment with 5-year sentence for each count.

Those charges stem from a deadly shooting at the Earlington Ideal Market back in 2020.

The toddler was hospitalized with several gunshot wounds and survived.

Police say the toddler was Stone’s and Merrell’s child.

After the shooting, police say Stone ran from authorities in Kentucky and later surrendered in Tennessee.

Last year, the trial

See Full Page