Johnathan McCoy, the man accused of murder in connection to September choking death of 81-year old Thelma “Ileen” Barnett, was arraigned in Trigg Circuit Court Wednesday.
McCoy, who was recently indicted on charges of murder, kidnapping, second-degree arson, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary, appeared virtually before Trigg Circuit Judge C.A. Woody Woodall Wednesday, who entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
McCoy will be represented by Shannon Powers, out of the Murray office of the Department of Public Advocacy and a pretrial hearing was set for May 12.
McCoy allegedly tied 81-year old Thelma “Ilene” Barnett’s hands behind her back and then strangled her to death at her home on Will Jackson Road on September 14. KSP says he returned that night and set her home on fire with her body still inside.