Top stories of 2014: McLemore pleads guilty to capital murder

Aug. 2014

A local man accused of capital murder and attempted murder in a 2011 case entered a guilty plea this week, courthouse officials said.

According to Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing, Michael McLemore, 28, formerly of Ruby Road in Phil Campbell, pleaded guilty to capital murder at a hearing last Wednesday morning and received a sentence of life in prison without parole.

McLemore was originally charged with two counts of capital murder in the shooting deaths of his father and stepmother, Ricky Hodge, 56, and Connie Hodge, 59, and two counts of attempted murder in the attacks of Marcia Smith, 57, and Royce Riddle, 63.

Rushing said McLemore pleaded guilty to the murder of his father and acknowledged the killing of his stepmother and the attacks on the Hodges in his plea agreement.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this case,” Rushing said.

“With his charges, [McLemore] was facing life in prison without parole or the death penalty, and we are glad we were able to make sure he stays in prison for the rest of his life without having to put the family through a lengthy trial.

“We are glad that we could get justice for these crimes and that the family now has some closure.”