The case against Will Jackson Road murder suspect Jonathan McCoy will be sent to the Trigg County Grand Jury.
McCoy appeared virtually Tuesday morning with attorneys Mike Crider and Shannon Powers before Trigg District Judge Jamus Redd.
McCoy’s charges of murder, kidnapping, second-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse come after a September 16 home fire. State police said before the fire, McCoy allegedly strangled Thelma “Ilene” Barnett after tying her hands together.
During the preliminary hearing, Kentucky State Police Detective Brian Hill presented evidence that led to McCoy’s arrest on December 3. Detective Hill said phone records that were pulled in October led them to believe McCoy committed the crime.
After the time authorities believed the murder to have taken place, McCoy’s phone records showed he was at a Walmart in Hopkinsville.
Earlier in the day, McCoy’s phone showed him on Reddick Pond Road with Allison Hunter. Hill said McCoy admitted to Hunter he had killed Barnett.
Judge Redd bound the case to the next meeting of the Trigg County Grand Jury.
Earlier Tuesday morning, Judge Redd also bound the case against Keisha Stewart to the grand jury. Stewart is not charged directly in the case but was wanted by state police for questioning concerning the murder.
Stewart is charged with vehicle theft.
Both McCoy and Stewart remained lodged in the Christian County Jail.