Hearing delayed in Chattanooga slaying of mother of 3

photo Mug shot of Brandon Russell from an unrelated charge from 2008. Russell, 29, is charged in the death of Meco Siler on Jan. 6.

The man accused of committing Chattanooga's first homicide of the year is slated to face a Hamilton County judge in October.

Brandon Russell, 30, is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 29-year-old Meco Siler on Jan. 6. A cleaning employee found Siler, a mother of three, stabbed to death in a bloody bed at the Country Hearth Suites on East 20th Street.

Russell, who also is charged with felony murder and especially aggravated robbery in the case, was scheduled for disposition Thursday before Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, but his court date was moved to Oct. 13 to allow more time for attorneys to prepare for the case.

A medical examiner's report showed 36 stab wounds to Siler's neck and slashes to her hands.

A few days later, police responded to an attempted suicide call after Russell slit his wrists. During interrogation by Chattanooga police detectives, Russell admitted stabbing Siler twice and "blacking out," police said.

A witness who was with Russell that day told police he watched as Russell tackled and repeatedly stabbed Siler after the two men came to her room to get cocaine.

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