Update on the Flatonia Postmaster Murder Trial

New trial dates have been set for Flatonia Postmaster Micahel McKim and his daughter Kayla McKim, who both face murder charges for the 2023 shooting death of Jason Pilat in Lavaca County.

Kayla McKim’s jury trial has been scheduled to begin on June 15 in Lavaca County. Michael McKim’s trial begins October 5. Both trials will be presided over by The Honorable Jessica Crawford of the 2nd 25th Judicial District.

Jason Pilat, 47 of Shiner, was shot at his home in the early morning hours of March 5, 2023. Piliat initially survived but eventually succumbed on March 17.

At the time, then-Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon said his office received a 911 call from Pilat’s residence around 12:53 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies found Pilat lying unconscious on the ground with a gunshot wound to his head. Michael McKim was seated and waiting for law enforcement to arrive, Harmon said at the time.

“What we’ve been able to ascertain thus far is that the victim was inside his residence, where he was entertaining a young lady friend – a lady friend who happened to be married to another man,” Harmon said the day after the incident in a statement to Lavaca County Today.

Harmon told reporters that Michael McKim was trying to find his wife, and that their adult daughter was with him at the time. Harmon is no longer the Sheriff in Lavaca County. He was defeated by the new sheriff, Steve Greenwell, in the 2024 election.

Michael McKim has been the Postmaster in Flatonia since 2022.