CLEARLAKE — Two men accused of murdering a Maine couple made separate appearances in court on Tuesday at South Lake Superior Court Department 4 in Clearlake.
Robby Alan Beasley, 30, and Elijah Bae McKay, 28, stand charged with double-homicide in connection with the deaths of Maine residents Yvette Maddox, 40, and her husband Frank Maddox, 32.
The couple”s bodies were discovered partially decomposed in early March 2010. The bodies were located at the bottom of an embankment off of Morgan Valley Road in Lower Lake. According to the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO), an autopsy of the bodies revealed both sustained gunshot wounds among other injuries.
A press release from LCSO stated Beasley, who is from Maine, hired the couple to help with a marijuana operation. McKay was a person of interest in the Maddox murders about a week into the investigation. Following service of a search warrant at his Lower Lake home, McKay was arrested on marijuana cultivation, possession for sales and weapons charges.
McKay remains in custody. His attorney Richard Peterson waived his client”s right to a speedy trial. His case was continued to 8:15 a.m. on May 24 in South Lake Superior Court Department 4 to set his preliminary hearing and enter a plea.
Beasley”s attorney Stephen Carter filed a motion to continue. Beasley remains in custody. In addition to the two murder charges, he also faces a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. He will next appear in court for a trial readiness conference on Aug. 22 in Department 1 at 8:15 a.m. and on Sept. 30 for a trial assignment. His trial was continued to 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 3.
