PANAMA CITY — The trial of an Alabama man facing the death penalty for the torture and strangling death of a 90-year-old Lynn Haven man began Monday.
Jurors were selected in the murder trial of Kevin Jeffries, 29, of Hartford, Ala., one of three people implicated in slaying Wallace Reid Scott in April 2013. Police discovered Scott’s body bound, beaten and strangled at his Lynn Haven home, initiating a manhunt for three suspects that spanned three states. Jeffries and an accomplice face the death penalty if convicted.
Jeffries also faces charges of armed robbery and burglary of a dwelling while armed, each of which can carry life sentences.
The trial will continue Tuesday.
A grand jury charged Jeffries and David Challender, 28, with premeditated murder in the case. A third person, Ashley Griffin, 29, also of Hartford, admitted to driving the two men to Scott’s home to coerce bank account information from him.
Officials said Scott was bound and beaten when he refused to provide personal identification numbers, and there was evidence of torture.
Griffin pleaded to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, armed robbery and burglary of a dwelling while armed in June. Part of the agreement, prosecutors said, is contingent on her cooperation. Her sentencing is in October, following the two murder trials, and a maximum penalty of life in prison is still on the table. Challender’s trial is scheduled for September.
Police records indicate each of the three were found with stolen items belonging to Scott in their possession.
Griffin was located in Donalsonville, Ga., on April 13, nine days after Scott was killed, and brought back to Bay County. She was wearing a ring that belonged to Scott, authorities said. Investigators developed her, Jeffries and Challender as suspects the previous day.
Jeffries and Challender, both of Vernon, were arrested later the same day; Jeffries was in Holmes County and Challender was in Caryville.
Sherri Mercer and Deborah Cupp, two women Scott employed as caretakers, were arrested on suspicion of credit card fraud for allegedly using Scott’s credit cards without authorization. Challender is Mercer’s son and Jeffries is her nephew.
Investigators told The News Herald that Scott learned of the fraud and had an appointment to remove Mercer as a beneficiary in his will. She has been cleared of suspicion of being in the house at the time of the killing.