ATHENS, Tenn. — Meigs County jail escapee Daniel Lankey has been charged with murder in the shooting death of Athens businessman Jeff Beene, McMinn County Sheriff Steve Frisbie said in a news conference this morning.
Sheriff Frisbie also said authorities arrested Adrian Robert Hall in connection with the case. He is in custody but has not yet bee charged.
Mr. Beene was killed Jan. 29 at his business, Plastics Industries. He had called police to report he was holding a burglar at gunpoint, but officers arrived to find him shot and the burglar gone.
District Attorney Steve Bebb said Mr. Lankey, a native of Detroit, Mich., had worked at the plastics plant for a few months sometime in the past. He was serving time in Meigs County on a rape conviction when he escaped in December, records show.
Acting on a tip Monday, officers surrounded his vehicle and took him into custody.
Officials believe Mr. Lankey had been camping in a tent in woods behind the plastics plant since he escaped from jail.
The sheriff said Mr. Lankey was carrying a .22 caliber pistol believed stolen from a Niota home. He said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab identified it as matching a .22 long rifle casing found at the shooting scene.
Authorities believe Mr. Beene was guarding Mr. Lankey when another man grabbed the victim from behind. They said evidence indicates Mr. Lankey fired a single shot at Mr. Beene.
Mr. Lankey is being held without bond at the McMinn County Jail on charges of felony murder and first degree murder. Mr. Bebb said a decision will be made later whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
See Saturday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.
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