MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Two people have been indicted on evidence tampering, accused of burning the body of a Mayfield teen mother who was raped and killed in 2000.
A Graves County grand jury indicted Issac Benjamin, 22, and Lynn Austin Leech, 27, on two counts each of tampering with evidence. Grand jurors also indicted Leech on one count of perjury.
State police Sgt. Sam Steger arrested Benjamin on Wednesday and Leech on Thursday, both at the Graves County Jail. Leech paid his $5,000 cash bond and was released about an hour following his arrest.
Benjamin was also booked into the jail. Graves County Jailer Randy Haley said he was then transferred to another facility. Benjamin’s bond was also set at $5,000 cash. His whereabouts Friday were unknown.
Graves County jail officials were unsure Friday morning if either man had an attorney.
The indictments alleged that Benjamin and Leech removed, concealed or mutilated Currin’s body, then burned it. The perjury charge against Leech stems from his grand jury testimony in October 2004 in the case.
At that time, he testified that he never met Quincy Omar Cross and knew nothing about Currin’s death. The grand jury alleged that was a lie.
Cross, 31, of Tiptonville, Tenn., was convicted of murder, kidnapping and rape in the death of the 18-year-old Currin in April. Currin’s burned and beaten body was found Aug. 1, 2000 behind Mayfield Middle School.
Two co-defendants, Tamara Caldwell of Mayfield and Jeffery Burton of West Paducah, are expected to go on trial in September. Two others originally charged in the case, Victoria Caldwell and Vinisha Stubblefield, pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse and testified against Cross last month.
A third person, 27-year-old Rosie Crice, has been charged with perjury after prosecutors said she made false statements during Cross’ trial. Crice is Caldwell’s sister.
Currin had an infant son, Zion, at the time of her death. The case remained unsolved for seven years, prompting protests by Currin’s family and supporters.
There is a gag order in the current cases related to Currin’s death. Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting the cases, declined to comment.
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