MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama man sought in the slayings of 9-year-old twins and a 73-year-old man was acquitted of capital murder charges in two other killings last year.
Authorities say Deandra Marquis Lee, 22, is now a person of interest in the deaths of the two 9-year-olds, Jordan Dejerinett and his sister Taylor, plus 73-year-old Jack Mac Girdner of Hope Hull. Girdner was a family friend.
Lowndes County Sheriff's investigator Chris West said Girdner had known the children's family for about three years.
Investigators found the bodies of all three Tuesday on a dirt road near Hayneville.
Authorities have not said why Lee is a person of interest in the case. It is also unclear whether he knew any of the three victims or their families.
Lee is out on bond in Dallas County for being in possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest and violation of a license to carry a pistol, according to authorities.Police say Lee is considered armed and dangerous.
Prosecutor Michael Jackson said jurors acquitted Lee in March 2011 on two counts of capital murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with a 2008 shooting.
Lee and three other people were in a car when a dispute broke out, followed by gunfire that left two of the men dead and a third injured.
The injured man and Lee each accused the other of doing the shooting, Jackson said. The jury acquitted him after about three days of deliberations.
Capital murder carries a sentence of either life in prison without parole or death.