Suspected killer of elderly man faces judge
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PARIS, Tenn. — New details emerge Thursday as a suspected killer goes before a judge. It happened during a preliminary hearing for Toby Carter who is charged with first degree murder for killing an 80-year-old man. Bobby Dozier, 80, was found in a wooded area near Paris last September after his family reported him missing. Officers said he was a victim of homicide, but had not released many more details until Thursday’s preliminary hearing. Thursday, Carter sat and listened to testimony in his preliminary hearing on counts of first degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in the September 2014 death of Dozier. “Deputy Haley Ramos came on the radio and advised that they had found Bobby Joe Dozier’s body just on Olde Tennessee Trail,” Henry County Sheriff’s Investigator Adam Jenkins said. Investigators said Carter’s DNA was found on a cigarette and beer can at the scene. Officers said it was clear Dozier had been murdered, “he was laying on his back feet closer to the road.” Thursday officials talked publicly for the first time about how he was killed. They say he was shot twice in the head. “One was to the back top portion of the head one the other was in the right cheek,” Jenkins said. Family and friends sat through the four hour preliminary hearing as three witnesses took the stand. Dozier’s daughter Julie Parks fought back tears talking about her father. “You know it’s just something we’re going to have to accept and be able to handle as a family we’re got such good friends and family,” Parks said. Parks said she does not know the connection between her dad and Carter. As far as she know they were strangers. Parks said, “we got what we were looking for today. It’s the first step towards justice I guess.” Officials said the gun used in the homicide has not been recovered. After testimony the judge ruled there is enough evidence to move the case forward to the grand jury. It is set to convene again on March 2. The aggravated kidnapping charge was dismissed.
