TEMPLE, Texas — Accused killer Cedric Marks was in court Friday facing charges of tampering with evidence, burglary and capital murder.
Marks pleaded not guilty to all charges. When asked what he pleads to the capital murder charge he said, “Absolutely not guilty.”
Marks is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Jenna Scott and her friend Michael Swearingin. The two went missing on Jan. 4, according to their families and police. Police said their bodies were found in a rural Oklahoma town on Jan. 15.
After leading police on a 9-hour manhunt in Montgomery County during his extradition from Michigan, Marks was booked into the Bell County Jail on Feb. 3.
He was also indicted on burglary of habitation on March 13.
The medical examiner's summary report showed Swearingin's cause of death was strangulation. Scott died of "homicidal violence," her medical examiner's summary report said.
Marks arrived in court just before 9:40 a.m. Friday in shackles and two guards at his side. He seemed calm and collected throughout the arraignment. A clean-shaved Marks even smiled at one point during his 10-minute court appearance.
After the hearing, Channel 6 reporter Jasmin Caldwell spoke with Marks' attorney Michael White who said his relationship with Marks is strained after Marks hired two private investigators against White's advice.
White said Marks could face up to 99 years in prison for the burglary charge plus a fine up to $10,000. The tampering with evidence charge carries a two to 10-year sentence and a fine up to $10,000.
"We talked about the possibility of the death penalty," White said in regards to the murder charge.
Life in prison is also on the table, White said. He said he should know the state’s plans in a week or two.
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