Money could be motive in Eagleville seniors beating on The Murfreesboro Post

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Money could be motive in Eagleville seniors beating

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:25 pm

Money could be motive in Eagleville seniors beating | Cecil and Edna Story, Ronald Damon, Eagleville home invasion

Money could have been the motive for the beating of two Eagleville senior citizens Dec. 27 at their secluded home, a sheriff’s detective said Wednesday during a preliminary hearing.

Defendant Ronald Damon, 36, of 901 W. Main St. previously did odd jobs for victim Cecil Story, 86, and his 60-pound wife, Edna, 93, of Floyd Road, said Detective Steve Kohler. Cecil Story and Damon argued over money before the couple was beaten.

“There’s been some money issues there,” Kohler said but did not elaborate.

Kohler and Detective Bryant Gregory charged Damon and Cecil Story and co-defendants James Charles Pittard, 20, of McMinnville and Ashton Garza, 19, of 5636 Constantine Drive in Rockvale were charged with beating the senior citizens during a home invasion.

Following a two-hour preliminary hearing, General Sessions Court Judge Ben McFarlin transferred their charges of especially aggravated burglary, especially aggravated kidnapping (two counts) and aggravated robbery (two counts) to the March grand jury for possible indictments. McFarlin set bond for Damon at $1 million and bond for Pittard and Garza at $750,000.

During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Allen Hale asked Kohler to describe the investigation.

Kohler said he responded to the Storys secluded home after they were taken to the hospital. Edna Story suffered severe cuts to her head, face, arms and legs. Her husband suffered possible broken bones to his face. They are in “slow recovery.”

Damon was developed as a suspect that night, Kohler said. Damon and Story met at their church in Eagleville and Damon did odd jobs for the Storys around their home.

The detectives recovered Story’s wallet and a document in the wallet related to Damon when located in downtown Murfreesboro.

Detectives learned he was on parole from Pennsylvania and transferred to Tennessee. They met with his parole officer who asked him to undergo a urine test. They found Damon used his 3-year-old son’s urine because he smoked marijuana in the past few days.

During a conversation, Damon said, “I’ll throw you a bone. I know the only thing left behind was a yellow nylon rope,” Kohler said, explaining the rope was used to tie up the Storys.

Pittard was developed as a second suspect.

“He implicated himself, Mr. Damon and Mr. Garza,” Kohler said.

Pittard told detectives he and Damon developed the plan to rob the Storys and they picked up Garza to be part of the crime.

“Garza punched Mr. Story in the mouth, knocking him over,” Kohler said. He pushed Mrs. Story down and held them.

Detectives apprehended Garza when a cooperating individual set up a marijuana deal with him.

Appointed defense attorney Derek Howard asked if Damon told Kohler how he knew about the rope. Kohler said “no.”

Howard asked if Damon gave a statement and when he asked for an attorney.

Kohler said Damon didn’t give a statement or ask for an attorney.

The Storys were unable to identify any of the suspects, Kohler told Howard.

Attorney Kirk Catron, who represents Garza, and attorney Will Fraley, who represents Pittard, quizzed Kohler about their clients’ involvement. Both Garza and Pittard gave statements implicating Damon.

It was undetermined who tied up the Storys, Kohler said.

During an immediate bond hearing, Kohler said the Eagleville community was afraid because of the assault on the Storys.

Damon is on parole and both Pittard and Garza are on bond awaiting court hearings on unrelated charges, the detective said. Also, both Pittard and Garza feel threatened by Damon.

Defense attorneys asked for a reasonable bond while Hale asked for a higher bond because of the criminal backgrounds.

McFarlin set the bonds and transferred the cases to the grand jury.

Tagged under Cecil and Edna Story, Eagleville home invasion, Ronald Damon

Member Opinions:

By: abenaki on 1/13/10
These three thugs are the worst possible excuse for human existence. They don't deserve the grace of living. May they rot in hell.

By: BrendaK28 on 1/14/10
I can't believe what we allow our children today. There is no repect for the adult figure in their lives or the adults around them.
Brenda

By: nd88 on 1/15/10
It takes a special kind of scum to hurt anyone, especially someone who really can't fight back. Don't drop the soap, boys.