Man pleads not guilty in death of woman found in church
Posted September 15, 2017 7:00 am
SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) - A man charged with murder and robbery in the death of a 70-year-old woman found inside a Kentucky church has pleaded not guilty.
News outlets report 41-year-old Dwight Mitchell Bell appeared in court Friday and a judge set a preliminary hearing for Sept. 20.
Somerset police announced Tuesday that Bell was arrested in Dandrige, Tennessee, on charges stemming from the theft of Ruthie Carolyn New's car, which was found in Indianapolis. The murder and first-degree robbery charges were added later.
New was found dead in a storage area at Denham Street Baptist Church in Somerset on Aug. 24.
Pulaski County Coroner Clyde Strunk said an autopsy ruled New's death a homicide, and she had likely been dead for 24 to 36 hours.
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