3 plead guilty in murder of Cocke County woman

[Malificynt]

May 13, 1998

3 plead guilty in murder of Cocke County woman

Confessions supply details

From staff reports

NEWPORT, Tennessee -- A man who said he was offered a motorcycle, a car and a
house trailer if he would assist in a killing was among three persons pleading
guilty in Cocke County Criminal Court on Tuesday.

Joe Maine of Hartford said he assisted in the slaying and helped dump the
victim's body into a cesspool.

Maine and George Pate Jr., 25, of Oak Ridge, pleaded guilty to first-degree
murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Both received life terms.

Maine was 17 years old when the slaying occurred on Aug. 1, 1997.

Another defendant, Shelley Breeden, 22, of Oak Ridge, pleaded guilty to
second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years.

Amy King was killed the night of her 21st birthday outside a home she shared
with others on Sinking Creek Road in the Parrotts|ville Community in Cocke
County, according to court records.

Maine told authorities Pate and Breeden were "in love."

He quoted them as saying they could never "have peace" as long as King and
Breeden's boyfriend, B.J. Kessler, were alive.

Maine said Pate and King had lived together before.

On the night of the incident, Maine said Pate lured the victim outside, saying
he had something that he wanted her to see in the chicken house on the
property.

Once they were outside, Pate cut King's throat with a knife, Maine said.

"Amy fell to the ground screaming, and then George stabbed her in the back.

"Amy was begging for her life, asking why are you doing this," according to
Maine's statement.

Investigators said Pate then asked Maine to get an ax, and it was used to club
the victim.

Maine and Pate then "drank vodka to calm our nerves," Maine said.

Then they dumped the body into the cesspool.

Cinderblocks were placed on her body, and several days later 15 containers of
baking soda and carpet freshener were dumped on the body to control the odor,
he said.

District Attorney Al Schmutzer said Breeden, who is the mother of three
children, was allowed to plead to the lesser charge "because our proof on her
was somewhat weaker."

[darkstar]

> He quoted them as saying they could never "have peace" as long as King and
> Breeden's boyfriend, B.J. Kessler, were alive.

Jesus, they couldn't just go on Jerry Springer??