Cox, 23, will face murder charges
By Lee Williams
Published in News on September 7, 2006 1:51 PM
The third defendant charged in connection with a 2004 New Year's Day double homicide is expected to have his day in court Monday.
The trial of 23-year-old Telly Cox, of LaGrange Street, LaGrange, is scheduled for Courtroom 5 at the Wayne County Courthouse. Wayne County Superior Court Judge Russell Lanier Jr. has been selected to hear the double-murder case. However, the judge selection is subject to change, a court official said Wednesday.
Wayne County Assistant District Attorneys Jan Kroboth and Claud Ferguson are expected to try the case. Kroboth said Cox's trial could last two to three weeks.
"It takes a long time to try a double homicide," Ms. Kroboth explained.
Ms. Kroboth would not say if she thought the state had a strong case against Cox, but said, "We'll just see what the jury does."
Cox faces two counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and one count of attempted first-degree rape and armed robbery. His charges stem from a botched armed robbery he allegedly orchestrated with 22-year-old Christopher Lee Brown of Forest Knolls Road.
The men allegedly stole two .22-caliber rifles, ammunition and a crossbow to pull off the robbery, but the crime did not go as planned. Instead, it turned deadly.
As a result, Michael Shawn Maynard, 33, and Christie Nicole Jones, 25, were fatally shot, according to reports. The shootings occurred in Maynard's mobile home in the 100 block of Garrick Lane about 3 a.m., according to the reports.
Maynard's 7-year-old daughter, who was visiting from out-of-state, witnessed the shootings, but she hid in the closet to avoid detection. Miss Jones told the little girl to call 911 before she died. The little girl dialed the number, but hung up. Sheriff's deputies responded to the hang-up call and found the two bodies.
Both Cox and Brown were charged in the shootings, and a third suspect, Alonza Bedell, 22, of Hunters Creek, was charged for allegedly trying to cover up the crimes.
Brown and Cox faced the same six felony charges. However, Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder Jan. 19. Brown was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, according to earlier reports. He also was ordered to pay $10,000 restitution and to undergo psychological and psychiatric treatment, according to Wayne County court records.
Bedell pleaded guilty to four counts of accessory after the fact Jan. 19. Her plea agreement was made with the caveat that she provide truthful testimony during Cox's trial, according to court records. Her sentence will be handed down once Cox's trial has been completed, Ms. Kroboth confirmed Thursday.