Steve CrumpCLEVELAND, Tenn. - Plans are in the works to drop a current set of indictments against Michael Younger, a suspect in the 1999 Valentine's Day triple slaying here.
"We want to step back and re-evaluate the evidence," said Steve Crump, district attorney for the 10th Judicial District.
Crump said he has discussed the plan with the victims' families and that the move to dismiss is not a signal that his office is "giving up."
Stepping back will allow the DA's office to move forward with a case that has a "cleaner procedural history," Crump said.
A hearing scheduled for today to listen to defense arguments to dismiss the case against Younger was canceled.
Once Special Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood signs the order, Younger will be a free man again, said Susan Shipley, the defendant's attorney.
Younger is one of three defendants that have been charged separately in the 15-year-old slayings of Oriental "O.J" Blair, Cayci Higgins and Dawn Rogers.
A 2010 case against Younger ended in mistrial due to prosecutorial misconduct.
Younger was reindicted this spring on other charges related to the triple homicide.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.