By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At a motion hearing in the First Degree Murder case against Douglas Wayne Talley Monday, Henry County Circuit Court Judge Donald Parish granted permission for Paris Attorney Mike Ainley to withdraw from the case.
Ainley had been serving as the attorney for Talley, who had been placed on the TBI’s Most Wanted List in connection with a cold case murder that occurred in Paris in 2001. On June 8, 2001, the Paris Police Department responded to a home at 322 Rison Street in Paris, where investigators found Etta Etheridge inside unresponsive. She was 72. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Talley, age 51, was arrested in November in Nashville and charged with one count of First Degree Murder and one count of First Degree Murder in perpetration of a felony (Criminal Attempt to Commit Robbery). He is still being held on $250,000 bond.
At Monday’s hearing, Ainley requested withdrawal from the case due to a conflict. Assistant District Attorney Gerald Campbell made no objection.
Judge Parish said the court will appoint another attorney to represent Talley after a period of vetting.
Talley was present in the courtroom for the hearing. He will be transferred back to a state facility shortly.