Jim Miller's body was found in the trunk of his burning car on a rural Monroe County road in July 2010.
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Jim Miller
More people will likely be charged in connection with the murder of a Monroe County election official, according to Assistant District Attorney, James Stutts.
"There will be other indictments as soon as we have enough information to proceed with prosecution," said Stutts.
Stutts said investigators are taking their time with those additional indictments because they don't want to jeopardize the investigation.
Jessica Kennedy Powers, 27, of Sweetwater, is charged with felony murder, aggravated robbery, arson of personal property and abuse of a corpse. She is accused of murdering Monroe County Election Commission Chairman, Jim Miller.
Miller, 60, was found dead in the trunk of his car in July 2010. An autopsy showed he had been shot three times before his body was placed in the trunk and set on fire.
At a status hearing for Powers on Monday morning, Judge Walter C. Kurtz released the public defender who was representing her. Jeanne Wiggins, asked to be taken off the case because she is representing other person's of interest in the murder case, in other crimes.
"It creates having to find another attorney to find and take their place, cause if one is excluded, their whole office is," said Stutts.
Kurtz is a special judge from Nashville who has been brought in to preside over the trial, which is set for July 25. Judge Kurtz has also set a date to hear special motions on June 30. All of the judges in Monroe County recused themselves because they knew Jim Miller or his family.
Miller's widow, daughter, sister, and other family and friends attended the hearing Monday.
"It's one step closer to the trial in July, and I feel like we're making progress," said Mechelle Miller.
Still, Miller's daughter said their family still has a lot of unanswered questions about the trial process, and about why this crime happened in the first place.
Some of those questions stem from Powers's behavior in the courtroom. Monday she chomped on gum, and chatted with other inmates in the courtroom for their own status hearings. At one point, before Powers faced Judge Kurtz, she turned around to Jim Miller's widow, Vickie, and said, "I didn't do it. I swear."
Mechelle Miller has told 10News in the past that she always felt there were others involved in her father's death.
Stutts said investigators have questioned between 80 and 100 people about Jim Miller's death, but they're still searching for additional information.
Anyone with tips should contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tip line. That number is 1-800-TBI-FIND.