BROWNSVILLE — A teenager charged with murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of an Edmonson County man saw his case referred to a grand jury on Tuesday.

Damiel Worrell, 18, appeared in Edmonson District Court for a preliminary hearing, at the end of which Edmonson District Judge Greg Vincent found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for potential indictment.

Worrell is accused of shooting Ernest Cline, 83, at his home on The Bridge Road in the early morning hours of Aug. 25.

Cline’s death was investigated by Kentucky State Police, which was called to the home after being notified of the shooting.

KSP Detective Allen Shirley testified on Tuesday that a neighbor, who Shirley said was one of Cline’s sons, had called 911 after Worrell had shown up at the house and claimed that someone had tried to hurt him.

Law enforcement went to Cline’s home and found Cline lying dead in a bed in the living room from multiple gunshot wounds, with a handgun lying on a couch on the opposite side of the room, Shirley said.

The detective testified that six spent shell casings were also found in the room.

Police took Worrell to KSP Post 3 headquarters in Bowling Green, where he gave a statement.

Shirley said Worrell initially told detectives he shot Cline in self-defense as Cline came at him with a knife.

“After being confronted with evidence that there was no knife in the immediate vicinity of the body, Mr. Worrell changed his story,” Shirley said in court.

Worrell then told police that an intruder covered in black clothing entered the home, picked up the gun lying on the couch and shot Cline, then gestured in a shushing motion at Worrell before leaving the home, Shirley said.

Police confronted Worrell about the lack of evidence at the scene to support his account, which Shirley said led Worrell to tell detectives that a woman who had previously stayed at the home claimed that Cline sexually assaulted her.

“(Worrell) said that he had recovered evidence that made him believe that account, he became upset … and blacked out,” Shirley said.

Questioned by Worrell’s attorney, Deidre Bowen of the Department of Public Advocacy, about whether police had talked to the woman, Shirley said police only know a first name for the person and have information that she may be in Warren County.

Worrell told detectives he has no memory of shooting Cline, but that he recalled getting into Cline’s truck and attempted to drive away before striking a telephone pole and a tree, Shirley said.

Detectives found a black bag in Worrell’s possession that contained bank cards in Cline’s name, according to Shirley.

Detectives interviewed some of Cline’s relatives and were told that Cline sometimes took in unhoused people to help him around the home.

“(Relatives) said on several different occasions that Mr. Cline had a considerably difficult time getting around on his own,” Shirley testified, adding that Cline used a walker and a cane for mobility but was also known to drive his truck.

Worrell is being held in Hart County Jail under a $250,000 cash bond.