GLASGOW – The trial in the case of a man allegedly killed by his wife and daughter in Barren County is scheduled to begin this summer, and recent court filings have laid out competing theories about the events surrounding his death.

Cheryl Leighanne Bennett, 48, of Glasgow is charged, along with her mother, Donna Logsdon, 73, with murder in connection with the death of Michael Logsdon, 75, who died July 9, 2022, in his Glasgow home.

Law enforcement alleges that Cheryl Bennett and her mother tampered with the bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPap) machine that Michael Logsdon, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, used as a breathing aid.

Special Prosecutor Blake Chambers has elected to try Bennett separately from her mother, and Bennett’s trial is scheduled for July 9 in Barren Circuit Court.

A pretrial conference for both women took place Friday, with deadlines set for attorneys on all sides to respond to pending motions ahead of a May 16 hearing.

Bennett’s attorney, John Olash, filed several motions Wednesday requesting that Chambers turn over records he believes to be relevant evidence.

One motion asks for Chambers to produce records of all payments made to Michael Logsdon’s medical providers by his daughter, Terri Jo Harris.

The motion indicates that Harris was her father’s primary caregiver from March, 2022 until July 7, 2022, two days before Logsdon’s death.

A check from Logsdon’s account for $10,000 was written to Harris for private medical care on May 13, 2022, but Donna Logsdon claims in an affidavit that Harris forged Michael Logsdon’s signature on four other checks during that time.

Olash claims in that motion that Harris told police that Cheryl Bennett stole her father’s pain medications and money and committed elder abuse against him, and that the prosecution’s theory hinges on the allegation that Cheryl Bennett caused her father’s death to “prevent Michael Logsdon from changing the revocable trust terms and reducing” Bennett’s inheritance.

Harris alleged that Bennett wanted to stop Logsdon’s plans to reduce her trust share from going forward, but Olash argues that there is no proof that Bennett was aware of those plans, and that Michael Logsdon instructed his financial advisor not to tell Bennett about the trust.

“(Bennett’s) theory is Terri Jo Harris orchestrated this prosecution by misleading Det. Starnes with salacious lies about (Bennett) in order to enrich Terri Jo Harris’ inheritance,” Olash said in the filing, saying the core of this case consists of a “bevy of allegations of inheritance scheming by rival sisters.”

In that vein, Olash said he believes Chambers cannot produce receipts to show the $10,000 check was used for medical care.

Another motion requests the production of video footage of Glasgow Police Department interviews with Harris and her husband, Kyle Harris.

Olash said he was provided with audio recordings of the July 15, 2022, interviews and now asks for any video footage.

Another asks for Chambers to provide copies of all emails, text messages and screenshots sent from Terri Jo Harris to GPD Detective Brian Starnes, who led the death investigation.

In that motion, it is mentioned that Harris told Starnes she had video, test messages and screenshots supporting Bennett’s guilt and that the data was sent from Michael Logsdon’s cell phone on July 19, 2022.

Olash has also requested the entire video footage of Bennett’s interview with GPD, saying in his motion that the interview footage provided by Chambers is incomplete, with the video beginning with Bennett speaking mid-sentence and not including the police introduction.

A fourth motion requests the production of a letter from Michael Logsdon to Donna Logsdon that he dictated to his daughter, Terri Jo Harris, who reportedly said in an interview with the Glasgow Police Department that the letter was to be given to Donna Logsdon after her husband’s death.

Olash also asks in another filing for Chambers to turn over any evidence of a possible accomplice to the death who was not charged, saying in the motion that the GPD was contacted on Aug. 8, 2022, by police in Glasgow, Scotland, who received information that Michael Logdson died and that a white male in his 60s who walks with a limp and has a large tattoo on one of his calves was involved.

Olash is requesting all information regarding the suspected accomplice, as well as the source of the allegation.

Chambers, meanwhile, filed notice Thursday of his intent to introduce evidence of Bennett’s past issues with substance abuse.

Chambers’ notice said that Michael Logsdon contemplated creating a trust for his wife and a sub-trust for Bennett out of concerns regarding Bennett, while in the midst of substance abuse issues, having access to a large amount of funds after Logsdon’s death.

Logsdon had desired to meet with his estate planners to discuss those matters, but Logsdon died before the meeting could take place.

Chambers also said he anticipates witnesses to testify about Terri Jo and Kyle Harris moving into Logsdon’s home to provide care, only to leave days before his death.

“The Harris family left the home due to an argument with Cheryl Bennett which cannot be adequately and truthfully reported to a jury without mention of Bennett’s substance abuse issues,” Chambers said in the notice. “The disagreement/arguments began over Bennett’s substance abuse issues and the Harris’ concerns about her access to the victim’s medications.”

Chambers also filed a separate notice of his plan to introduce testimony through various witnesses about statements Michael Logsdon made concerning his desires for estate planning and his living situation.

In addition to wanting to meet with financial planners regarding Bennett’s ability to access his trust, Logsdon reportedly made statements within days of his death about moving to Bowling Green to live with the Harris family, Chambers said.