Trial Date Set for Man Accused of Killing Former Kentucky Lawmaker’s Daughter

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY — A Kentucky judge has officially scheduled the trial of Shannon Gilday, the man accused of killing 32-year-old Jordan Morgan, daughter of former state lawmaker Wesley Morgan, during a violent home invasion in 2022.

According to FOX56, the trial is set to begin on May 1, 2026, and is expected to continue through the end of the month. The case has drawn statewide attention due to its brutal details and the victim’s prominent family background.

Home Invasion and Murder at Richmond Mansion

Authorities say Gilday broke into the Morgans’ Richmond mansion in February 2022, where he allegedly shot and killed Jordan Morgan while she was sleeping. Investigators described the attack as targeted and “methodical.”

Morgan, a former attorney and political staffer, was remembered as intelligent, compassionate, and deeply loved in her community.

Death Penalty Still on the Table

During Monday’s status hearing, defense attorneys attempted to remove the death penalty from the case, arguing that Gilday suffers from a serious mental illness. However, the judge denied the motion, ruling that the death penalty will remain a possible punishment if Gilday is convicted.

Friends and family of Jordan Morgan attended the hearing, expressing frustration at the lengthy court process.

“Every time we come here, we feel like it’s another wound being opened,” said Mica Nicole, a close friend of Morgan. “We’re ready for closure — I’m sick of seeing him in the courtroom.”

A status hearing has been scheduled for January 20, 2026, ahead of the trial.

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