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DA Adams to seek death penalty in 1999 slayings

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — District Attorney Kirke Adams said he’ll seek the death penalty against a man charged in the slayings of two Dothan teenagers nearly 2...
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DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — District Attorney Kirke Adams said he’ll seek the death penalty against a man charged in the slayings of two Dothan teenagers nearly 20 years ago.

Adams said Coley McCraney, 45, can be prosecuted for capital murder in the killings of 17-year-olds Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley.

Adams told reporters Monday that one of the multiple capital counts against the man includes a charge that one of the victims was sexually assaulted during her death in 1999.

Authorities said they used DNA matching to confirm that evidence from the killings was tied to McCraney.

The prosecutor says he decided years ago to pursue the slayings as a death-penalty case.

McCraney was detained Friday. A defense lawyer says the man is cooperating with authorities.

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