Here's an update on the criminal case for the two suspects arrested for the Jan. 30 murder of Jeff Beene, owner of injection molder and thermoformer Plastic Industries Inc. in Athens, Tenn. The Daily Post-Athenian's Web site is reporting that the suspects, Daniel Lankey and Jeff Coleman, were arraigned in McMinn County Criminal Court yesterday. Assistant District Attorney Jim Stutts told the court that prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty. Some additional details from the story:
Investigators believed Lankey had thrown away a weapon just before he arrested on Coyle Road. They returned to the scene later and found a .22-caliber pistol. Forensic tests showed the weapon is the weapon used to kill Beene. Coleman was arrested Friday, Feb. 13 in a makeshift illegal campsite in Athens. The campsite is in view of the Plastics facility where Beene was shot. Coleman allegedly admitted to investigators he was inside the facility when Beene was shot.For our coverage of the arrest, check out this Plastics News story from Feb. 23.