Man charged in 5 Ga. deaths denied bond
LAGRANGE, Ga. — A man accused of murdering five people was denied bond during his first court appearance Wednesday.
Four of the victims Thomas Jesse Lee is accused of killing were shot; another was asphyxiated.
Lee is charged with five counts of malice murder.
Troup County Magistrate Judge Vicki McWaters said bond was denied, and that it could only be set by a Superior Court judge.
He was extradited Tuesday to Georgia from Tupelo, Miss., where he fled after the slayings, authorities said.
Authorities had been searching for Lee, 26, after five bodies were found in a LaGrange, Ga., home Saturday.
The Troup County Sheriff's Office was asked to conduct a welfare check at the home at about 10 p.m., when the bodies were found. Initially, deputies said four bodies had been found, but indicated a fifth victim had been found a few hours later.
Inside the house were the bodies of four females and one male. The victims were identified as 69-year-old William Burton, 68-year-old Sheila Burton, 33-year-old Christie Lee, 18-year-old Iiaonna Green and 16-year-old Bailey Burton. Bailey Burton was asphyxiated.
Authorities said the victims could have been killed as early as last Wednesday. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted autopsies on the bodies Monday.
Thomas Jesse Lee, Christie Lee's husband, had been staying at the house. Police identified him as a suspect in the murders on Sunday.
According to Troup County Sheriff James Woodruff, Lee was found at a bus station in Tupelo, Miss., shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. He was taken into custody without incident. Woodruff said that a church had helped Lee purchase a bus ticket to Opelika, Ala., unaware of his identity.
Authorities said that Lee freely gave his name to approaching officers. He was with the dog of the family he is accused of murdering, Woodruff said.
Investigators are still looking for the murder weapon used in the case. They are also working to determine a motive.
Lee's vehicle was recovered in Savannah, Tenn., which is between Memphis and Nashville. It was towed back to Troup County.
Lee's next court appearance is Feb. 19.
Contributing: The Associated Press.