Man accused of running over ex-wife pleads not guilty to new charges

The man accused of running over his ex-wife in Martin City last year pleaded not guilty to new felony charges in Flathead County District Court on Thursday. 

Prosecutors added additional felony counts of leaving the scene of a vehicle accident involving serious bodily injury or death and tampering with physical evidence in Kenneth James Floyd’s negligent homicide case in late March. The 38-year-old, who was released on his own recognizance in December, appeared before Judge Dan Wilson in street clothes on April 11 to enter not guilty pleas. 

Floyd was visiting with Kimberly Gilham, his ex-wife, in his pickup truck in the alley between First Avenue North and Central Avenue in Martin City on June 18, according to court documents. She exited the vehicle after her husband, Christopher Gilham, spotted them and began yelling at Floyd, telling him to leave. 

As Kimberly Gilham made her way around the front of the truck, Floyd allegedly shifted into drive and ran her over before departing. Arriving first responders found Gilham still alive, but suffering from serious injuries to her legs, court documents said. She later died at Logan Health Medical Center. 

Prosecutors filed the negligent homicide charge against Floyd nearly four months after Gilham’s death. In February, County Attorney Travis Ahner asked the Flathead County commissioners for permission to bring in outside help on the case, citing staffing shortages in his office.  

Special Deputy County Attorney Eric Kitzmiller, on loan from the state Department of Justice, filed the amended charges on March 27. He appeared alongside Assistant Attorney General Edward Hirsch in court April 11 via video. 

An omnibus hearing in the case is scheduled for April 17 with a pretrial conference to follow on June 4.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.