McCormick indicted on three murder counts
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The suspect, Jody Lee McCormick, 28, has been indicted on three counts of murder, including felony murder during a theft, felony murder during a robbery and premeditated murder. He can only be sentenced on one of the murder counts if convicted. He is also indicted on charges of aggravated robbery, theft over $1,000, arson, and abuse of a corpse.
McCormick is charged with killing Junior Tanner, 57, outside J.R. Auto Sales on May 21. Investigators believe McCormick strangled Tanner to death and then burned the victim’s body inside a nearby trailer. McCormick claims Tanner cut him with a knife and that he strangled him to death during a struggle and did not mean to kill the victim. Blood, believed to be that of McCormick, was found at the scene. McCormick also had a wound on his hand he said was the result of the cutting.
The victim was found inside the burned trailer the morning following the murder. McCormick was arrested following a two-week investigation. Several items including cash, a gun and a knife belonging to the victim were found in McCormick’s possession when he was arrested.
Investigators suspect McCormick went to the auto yard to steal a vehicle and was caught by the victim, leading to the fatal confrontation. Lawmen also believe McCormick actually took a vehicle from the lot after killing Tanner but returned the vehicle hours later when he came back to the scene of the crime to dispose of the victim’s body.
McCormick remains held under $500,000 bond and will appear for arraignment later this month.