An accused serial killer smirked under a light blue face mask moments before a Memphis judge refused his request for bail,
Demario Smith ,19, appeared in Judge Scott Millikan’s courtroom via a video feed from the City Justice Center in downtown St. Louis.
Family members of some alleged victims attended the hearing in-person and virtually.
Abercrombie, 49, was shot to death Sept. 16 in the 4500 block of Adelade Avenue. Carey Ross, 24, was found shot to death three days later in a vacant lot in the 1500 block of Mullanphy Street.
Reed’s public defender, Brian Horneyer, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of murder and armed criminal action. He asked Millikan to set a bond for him noting other jurisdictions are already keeping him in custody.
He said the defense team hasn’t received discovery materials from Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner’s Office and added his client has been declared indigent.
“We are just scratching the surface of an extensive mental health history,” Horneyer said.
“The record is clear and convincing that this defendant is a grave danger to the community at large,” Assistant Circuit Attorney Jonathan Phipps added.
Millikan agreed and refused to set bail for Reed.