PLEAS REFUSED IN METH LAB FIRE DEATH

TISHOMINGO -- A Johnston County judge Monday refused to accept guilty pleas
from two men charged with murder in a methamphetamine lab explosion and
fire that killed a woman in Mill Creek. Wade Allen Edwards, 39, and Gary
Lee Hicks, 40, had sought to make a blind plea to second-degree murder in
the death of Teresa Hicks, 39. They are charged with first-degree murder
and conspiracy to manufacture drugs.

Associate District Judge Robert M. Highsmith refused to accept the pleas,
preparing the way for the first-degree murder charges to move toward trial.
A preliminary hearing for Edwards and Hicks is planned for January,
officials said.

Highsmith declined to comment on his decision to reject the pleas.

The charges stem from a June 30 explosion that severely burned Teresa
Hicks, the late wife of Gary Hicks.

Investigators allege 15 people were in the Hicks home when vapors from a
jar used in cooking methamphetamine exploded. Teresa Hicks and another
woman were severely burned. Teresa Hicks died July 16.

Prosecutors filed felony murder charges against the two men, alleging the
death was a direct result of crimes committed during methamphetamine making.

Deaths caused by fires from meth lab explosions are similar to arson deaths
under Oklahoma law, said David Pyle, Edwards' attorney. In those cases,
defendants deemed responsible for the fire can be charged with murder.

Edwards and Gary Hicks on Sept. 25 sought to plead guilty to second-degree
murder, which carries a lesser penalty than first-degree murder. A third
accomplice, Beverly Edwards, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture a
controlled dangerous substance.

Attorneys representing the two men had reached a plea deal with
prosecutors, but were told Monday the deal was off, Pyle said.

Although the judge's decision was unexpected, prosecutors are ready to try
the case.

"It's one of those deals, but you go on," said Charles Migliorino, Johnston
County assistant district attorney. "We're prepared to go on with murder-one."