Wednesday, February 26, 2003
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Wednesday, February 26, 2003 |
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DeKalb may get 1st crack at Patton By JOHN
MUNFORD
Carl Millard Patton Jr., freshly accused in a quarter-century-old multiple murder case, had his first court appearance in front of Fayette County State Court Judge Fletcher Sams Tuesday morning. But it might be the last time Patton appears in a Fayette court for the 1977 murder of Liddie L. Evans. Detectives have learned Evans and her boyfriend Joe Cleveland may have been murdered at Patton's DeKalb residence on Ward Lake Road, so he may face the murder charges there, said Maj. Bruce Jordan, director of investigations for the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. Jordan emphasized that he would not drop the local charge against Patton until he is absolutely sure the DeKalb authorities have a better case. During the court hearing, Patton told Judge Sams that he would need a court appointed attorney. Sams urged Patton to fill out the paperwork at the jail to begin the process. As Patton left the courtroom, he ignored questions from the pack of reporters who followed him out of the courthouse. After the hearing, Jordan confirmed that Patton was a childhood friend of Cleveland and the nephew of Fred Wyatt, another murder victim who Patton may have killed. Although the Fayette County Grand Jury will convene next week, the case against Patton for malice murder will not be brought before them to consider for a possible indictment, Jordan said. While Fayette could bring the charge against Patton for the death of Evans, the law gives preference to the jurisdiction where the deadly act occurred, Jordan noted. After talking with DeKalb County District Attorney J. Tom Morgan, Jordan said he expected to remain on the case.
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