A duo charged with murdering three people last month made their first appearances in court last week, and will be held without bond as they await the next phase of their trial.
Caleb Brookins, 28, and Jessica Marie Root, 40, appeared before Judge Ryan J. Moore for arraignments and to have their respective bonds set for three charges of first-degree murder, as well as one count each of theft or property valued between $2,500 and $10,000. Root also faces a misdemeanor count of theft under $1,000. Brookins was appointed representation by Tom Miner, while Susan Marttala of the Public Defender’s Office spoke on behalf of Root.
Attorney General Craig Northcott of the 14th district represents the state in the cases against Brookins and Root, as 31st District DA Chris Stanford recused himself after his involvement in the apprehension of the suspects in DeKalb County.
Possession of victims’ stolen property may prove to be some of the most vital evidence in the case against two people accused of committing a triple homicide which was discovered just over a week ago in northern Warren County.
Brookins and Root are facing three counts each of first-degree murder for the killing of William Piechocniski, Dana Ramsden and Otis Hawks II, whose bodies were discovered Nov. 20 at residences at 900 and 884 Merry Oaks Rd.
According to arrest warrants filed by Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigators, on Nov. 20, the date the bodies were found on Merry Oaks Rd., authorities began investigating possible thefts from the property. Investigator Justin Colwell reported he was notified about a class ring from Cardinal Hayes High School class of 1963, which allegedly belonged to the victim and was pawned at American Loan Co. in Memphis. The pawn ticket reportedly listed Root as the seller.
The report further states the victim’s 2019 Ford Ranger had been taken from the property, and was flagged by license plate-reading cameras in Memphis on two separate occasions on Oct. 29. On Nov. 21 the Memphis Police Department located the truck. Investigator Calvin Hammond reports the occupants of the vehicle were interviewed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and stated they had purchased the truck from Brookins and Root for $300 around Nov. 14.
Brookins and Root were arraigned in General Sessions Court Tuesday, November 26. After autopsy results from the Merry Oaks victims are made available to both the prosecution and defense attorneys, preliminary hearings will be scheduled to determine if enough evidence exists to bind their cases to the grand jury.
In last week’s issue of the Smithville Review, a photo was mistakenly used a photo as that of Root, with that of another woman charged in an unrelated case, Kammi Dawn Horton. The Review apologizes for the error.
