Jury reaches verdict for Kentucky teacher accused of recruiting juvenile inmate to kill husband

COLUMBIA, Ky. (FOX 56) — A verdict has been reached in the trial of a former Adair County teacher who was accused of recruiting a juvenile inmate to kill her husband.

The investigation began in March 2025 after “explicit materials” were found at the Adair Regional Juvenile Detention Center during a routine search. It was believed that 27-year-old Elena Bardin, an Adair County schoolteacher assigned to the facility, sent them.

An April press release from Kentucky State Police (KSP) noted that among the explicit images of Bardin was alleged evidence of solicitation to kill her husband.

Court documents recount that the trial commenced at approximately 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Commonwealth called eight witnesses.

Bardin stated that she did not wish to testify and called no witnesses for her defense.

According to court documents, the jury deliberated for two hours. It returned a guilty verdict on three counts, including first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, and distribution of obscene material to a minor.

Bardin was found not guilty of criminal solicitation to commit murder, an additional first-degree sexual abuse charge, and an additional first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor charge, per court documents.

The jury recommended a four-year sentence for first-degree sexual abuse and 10 years for unlawful transaction with a minor. The recommendation is for a consecutive sentence.

Final sentencing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 13.