Clementine Myers a free woman … for now

Just under two months after she went to jail for her role in the Myers Lane triple murders, Clementine Myers is a free woman, her debt to society paid on time served.

However, given the possibility murder conspiracy charges could be resurrected against Myers at any time, freedom could be fleeting.

Myers, 70, was released from Warren County Jail last week on time served for her conviction on the charge of criminally negligent homicide. She was incarcerated after the Tennessee Supreme Court rejected her appeal in May and ordered her to serve the remainder of her 20-month sentence.

However, the sentence was to be served at 30 percent with an additional eight days credit for each month of good behavior.

Myers had also served several months in jail after her original arrest, time that was counted toward her overall sentence.

Ms. Myers was convicted on the felony count for allegedly paying off murder co-conspirator Johnny Lewis (now serving 65 years for assisting in the crime) with hush money after her son, Doug Myers, murdered his longtime girlfriend and two children.

Ms. Myers was convicted in 2004 but her service of her jail time was delayed for three years due to appeals, all of which were denied for the defendant. One of those appeals, however, was an appeal by prosecutors asking that they be allowed to re-try Ms. Myers on murder conspiracy charges.

Jurors were hung on the question during the original trial, causing a mistrial on that charge. The appellate court has said prosecutors can re-try the elderly woman for murder conspiracy.

District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis, who inherited the case upon her election last year, says a determination has not been made as to whether to pursue the conspiracy charge.

‘It’s huge file so we’re going to be busy reviewing it over the next week,’ Zavogiannis said. ‘I also intend to talk to the families and get their input on what they want to do because I care about what they think.’

Zavogiannis said there could be a decision in a week or so depending on how soon she can finish the file and set up a meeting with the families.

Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder carries 15 to 25 years in prison, something that could prove to be a life sentence for the elderly Myers, who is in failing health.