◼ One suspects pleads not guilty to Willow Creek man's murder
Allison White/The Times-Standard
Posted: 02/25/2010 01:24:16 AM PST
One of two men arrested last week on suspicion of killing a Willow Creek man pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday while the other is expected to enter a plea today.
Eddie David Lee, 21, and Limmie Greg Curry III, 19, face charges related to the death of a man believed to be William “Billie” Reid, 46, who was reported missing by his family on Feb. 15. A body believed to be Reid's was found Saturday after authorities searched Reid's home. Lee and Curry are scheduled to return to court today after Lee's lawyer requested more time to review the charges.
Lee and Curry are being held on suspicion of murder with the special circumstance that it was intentional and carried out for financial gain, according to the Humboldt County jail. Lee faces other allegations, as well, including possession of marijuana for sale and committing a felony while armed with a deadly weapon.
Curry was appointed a public defender after the Humboldt County Alternate Counsel Office declared a conflict, apparently related to the victim. Curry entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday and a denial of the special circumstances. To the court, Curry stated he was attempting to hire a private attorney but accepted the public defender appointment until he is able to do so.
The body found at Reid's Three Creeks Road cabin in a rural area off State Route 299 on Saturday was tentatively identified as Reid, and further tests will confirm the identity, said Humboldt County Coroner Dave Parris. His office is arranging to send evidence to the Department of Justice for the tests.
Reid's sister, who reported him missing, was unable to confirm the man's identity.
”Nobody's able to identify him at the present time,” Parris said.
Neither the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office nor the Coroner's Office would release information on the condition of the body, as it could compromise the investigation as it continues. They are also unable to release where on the property he was found or how they recovered the body.
Allison White can be reached at 441-0506 or awhite@times-standard.com.
