Cleveland man charged with double homicide still in jail

photo Aaron Dean Lawson, 32, is a suspect in the shooting deaths of Charles and Deborah Phillips in northern Bradley County. He has been indicted on two first-degree murder charges in Bradley County.

A Cleveland, Tenn., man charged with shooting his daughter's grandparents to death remains in jail after his arraignment in Bradley County Criminal Court today.

Bradley County Judge Amy Armstrong assigned public defender Richard Hughes to represent 32-year-old Aaron Lawson, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Police believe Lawson shot Charles "Eddie" and Deborah Phillips outside their home near Charleston, Tenn., in a dispute about where Lawson's daughter would spend Easter.

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Lawson is the father of the Phillipses' 11-year-old granddaughter.

Lawson was arrested at his uncle's shop off Highway 58 in north Hamilton County on April 20 after he led police on an all-night manhunt.

He appeared in court in shackles this morning, and Armstrong referred all further decisions to Judge Carroll Ross, who now is handling the case.

It is up to Lawson's attorney to file a motion requesting a bond, 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Bebb said.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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