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Jennings County Jury Finds Seymour Man Not Guilty On Murder Charge

Last updated on Tuesday, November 8, 2016

(JENNINGS CO.) - A Jennings County Circuit Court jury deliberated for four hours Friday before returning a not guilty verdict on a felony murder charge against JoVonnie Antonio Mayes.

Police say that robbery appeared to be the motive in the death of 52-year-old Richard Smith, of Dupont.

Police arrested 23-year-old Mayes of Seymour who only knew Smith for a very short time before his death.

Mayers was found in Harrison County in possession of a stolen truck taken from a nearby trailer park in the area where Smith's body was discovered.

Smith's naked body was found by police in a trash container outside of the former Hatton's Carpet and Flooring building near Fifth Street and Amvet Drive in in North Vernon on October 17, 2014.

Police say a person who lives in the area discovered the body when taking out the trash.

Police say Smith was beaten to death. He suffered a gash on his head and his clothes were scattered nearby on the ground.

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