Two Limestone murder cases set for trial

Published 6:15 am Saturday, July 22, 2017

Two 2015 murder cases have been set for trial in Limestone County.

A Sept. 11 trial date is set for Dawn Doreen Child, 49, of 24158 Upper Fort Hampton Road, Elkmont.

Child is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Gary Leon Cox, 53, at her home on Feb. 21, 2015.

Child, who had a dog-grooming and pet-sitting business, allegedly became angry with Cox because he disobeyed her directives to leave a harness on a dog, Limestone County Chief Investigator Stanley McNatt said at the time of the shooting. When the argument between the couple escalated, Child left the room. Cox followed her, and they began shoving one another. Child retrieved her handgun and shot Cox three times, McNatt said.

She had been free on $50,000 pending her trial. However, the court revoked her bond July 17 after she was charged with theft and returned to the Limestone County Jail. The court declined to reset bail.

An Aug. 31 plea date is set for Child, at which time she could plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Shooting at park

A Dec. 11 trial is set for Charles “Frankie” McCluskey, 45, of 16601 Zehner Road, Athens. He is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Ronnie Kyle Jr. following an argument at McCluskey’s mobile home in the Clements community on March 4, 2015.

Kyle, who was looking for his girlfriend following an argument with her earlier in the day, had driven to McCluskey’s home about 7:24 p.m. to see if she was there. (Kyle’s girlfriend and McCluskey were once married.) Sheriff Mike Blakely said McCluskey got his single-barrel, 20-gauge shotgun and walked outside after Kyle arrived and repeatedly called for his girlfriend, who was not there. He told Kyle to leave and the two began to argue. McCluskey fired at Kyle’s windshield, hitting him in the hand and chest. Kyle was declared dead on arrival at Huntsville Hospital.

McCluskey told investigators Kyle was revving his engine and driving forward at him and family members when he fired. He remains free on a $30,000 bond pending his trial.

A Nov. 30 plea date is set for McCluskey, at which time he could plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Limestone Circuit Judge Chadwick Wise is scheduled to preside at both trials, which are on the short list of pending cases Wise would like to have tried as soon as possible. Still, as with any case, the trial date could be reset as the due date nears.