Trial date set in Oak Grove murder case

A trial date was set in the murder case against Rodolfo Amaya—the man charged in the fatal shooting death of 43-year-old Dante Welch—in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday morning. 

Amaya appeared alongside public defender Doug Moore, who informed the court that he recently received more evidence from the Oak Grove Police Department in this case, and just needs more time to go through it all. He is also waiting for a report to come back on a mental health evaluation on Amaya from an expert.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen requested they go ahead and set a trial date, with one set for February 19.

Another pretrial hearing was set for November 8. 

Amaya is charged with murder in the first degree and first-degree wanton endangerment.

He is alleged to have shot and killed Welch on New Gritton Avenue in Oak Grove in March of this year—he allegedly shot Welch, who was inside of a parked vehicle, in front of a toddler who was also in the vehicle.