DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Two pending murder cases in Walton County were continued in court Tuesday.
Barry Davis, 27, who is accused of two counts of premeditated murder, now is scheduled to appear in court April 2 for a plea day.
Davis was arrested Feb. 13 and charged with killing 49-year-old John Hughes and 41-year-old Heidi Rhodes in Hughes’ home in Santa Rosa Beach. The couple have been missing since May 7, 2012.
Davis went before Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells with his attorney, Joseph Alldredge. It is not known yet if the state attorney’s office will seek the death penalty.
Chrispin Ramirez’s case also was continued. The 22-year-old man is accused with 16-year-old Hayley Bowden in the stabbing death of 77-year-old Arthur Gerald Anderson in January in Mossy Head.
Ramirez and Bowden are accused of killing Anderson after he caught them breaking into a home he was watching over.
They also have been charged with arson, and Ramirez faces additional charges of resisting arrest and interference with child custody.
Ramirez’s case was rescheduled to April 16 while attorneys wait for his competency test to be completed. He is expected to file a plea at his next appearance.
Bowden is scheduled to appear in court May 16 for a pretrial hearing.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.