Double murder case continued, may go to grand jury March 25

With his attorney again unable to attend court, a continuance was accepted for Edward Demario Hawkins in Vance County District Court Monday.

Hawkins is the 26-year-old charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 16 shooting deaths of 34-year-old Kenya Odessa Hodges and 33-year-old Jerome Kearney.

Prosecutors indicated there is a strong likelihood that the Superior Court grand jury will hear the case for probable cause and make a decision on handing down indictments before any further hearings in District Court. The grand jury convenes Monday, March 25.

Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps said that Hawkins’ defense attorney, Steven B. DeCillis, was unavailable for Monday’s probable cause hearing. Judge Carolyn J. Yancey accepted the continuance.

Monday afternoon, Hawkins was still in jail without bond. He was arrested Feb. 26.

Hodges and Kearney were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the shooting happened in a breezeway at the Scottish Inns Motel. Evidence was found at or near Room 171.

Contact the writer at mfisher@hendersondispatch.com.