Murder suspects’ hearing continued
by Courtney Coble, Staff Writer
19 months ago | 2051 views | 4 4 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
First-degree murder suspects Aaron Bowen, left, and Michael Clemente are escorted into a Sequoyah County courtroom Monday morning. The preliminary hearing for Clemente, Bowen and Heather Jones (not pictured) began Monday. The trio is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Jones’s one-year-old daughter. Sherrel Henry
First-degree murder suspects Aaron Bowen, left, and Michael Clemente are escorted into a Sequoyah County courtroom Monday morning. The preliminary hearing for Clemente, Bowen and Heather Jones (not pictured) began Monday. The trio is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Jones’s one-year-old daughter. Sherrel Henry
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On Monday the preliminary hearing for three murder suspects began in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw, but was continued after Tuesday’s testimony.

John David Luton, first assistant district attorney, said the preliminary hearing for Michael Clemente, 19, and Aaron Christopher Bowen, 18, both of Fort Smith, Ark., and Heather Jones, 19, of Van Buren, Ark., will most likely be lengthy. The trio was charged earlier this year with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Jones’s one-year-old daughter.

Luton said, Tyler Hughes, who is Bowen’s stepbrother, testified Monday. Hughes rode with the trio to Devin Jeremiah’s

home on Feb. 26 before the death of Jones’s daughter.

Hughes was the only witness to testify on Monday and on Tuesday Hughes was on the stand for nearly half the day. Hughes was cross-examined by defense attorneys John Echols, Gretchen Mosley, Craig Corgan and Corbin Brewster. On Tuesday, Sequoyah County Sheriff investigator Eric Helms testified. He will be cross-examined on June 28 when the hearing continues.

Luton said Special District Judge Dennis Sprouse continued the preliminary hearing to 9:30 a.m. June 28 because of conflicting schedules for two defense attorneys.

Clemente, Bowen, and Jones are charged with first-degree murder in connection to the Feb. 27 death of Jones’s daughter Elaine Keene. The trio is also charged with first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, robbery by two or more persons, conspiracy to commit robbery by two or more persons and child neglect. Jones is out on bond and Clemente and Bowen are being held in the Sequoyah County Jail without bond

On Feb. 27 Jones drove Clemente and Bowen to Jeremiah’s home north of Roland where Clemente and Bowen allegedly robbed and beat Jeremiah, 21. Jeremiah began shooting at the vehicle with a .22 caliber rifle as Jones drove away. One of the bullets struck the child in the head. Elaine Keene, 1, died March 1 at Arkansas Children’s’ Hospital in Little Rock.

Jeremiah will appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. June 28 on second-degree murder and two counts of shooting with intent to kill charges.
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