Trials Reset in Mayes Death Cases

By Adrian Sainz/The Associated Press

BOLIVAR, Tenn. — A judge on Friday set later trial dates for two women charged in a Tennessee murder-kidnapping after lawyers said they have not received important evidence from the federal government.

Federal authorities say the late Adam Mayes kidnapped two young girls from their home in Whiteville, Tenn., after killing their mother and sister on April 27, 2012. His wife, Teresa Mayes, is charged with their murders. Mary Mayes, Adam Mayes’ mother, has pleaded not guilty to especially aggravated kidnapping. Investigators say she knew about the abductions but did not tell authorities.

Her attorney, Terry Dycus, asked Circuit Judge J. Weber McCraw for a new trial date because he has not received some discovery from the U.S. Marshals Service. Teresa Mayes’ lawyer, Shana Johnson, made the same request.

Assistant District Attorney Joe Van Dyke said the state has asked for the documents but has not received them. The discovery in question is in a box at the marshals’ office, Van Dyke said.

The prosecutor said he is not ready for the trials scheduled for May 16 because of “the failure of the U.S. government.”

A marshals spokesman in Memphis said the Office of General Counsel in Washington is handling the case. The general counsel then referred The Associated Press to the press office in Washington, which did not immediately respond to questions.

Authorities say Adam and Teresa Mayes drove with the bodies of Jo Ann Bain and her 14-year-old daughter Adrienne Bain, and the two surviving girls, to their home in Guntown, Miss. After arriving in town, Adam Mayes fled with 12-year-old Alexandria Bain and 8-year-old Kyliyah Bain into the north Mississippi woods. The bodies of Jo Ann Bain and her oldest daughter were found buried in the backyard of the home, authorities said.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies conducted an intense search for Adam Mayes, who fatally shot himself as a SWAT team approached him in the woods near a church May 10.

The kidnapped girls were rescued safely.

Teresa Mayes has pleaded not guilty to two murder charges. In a statement she read in court in October, she told authorities her husband hit Jo Ann Bain in the head with a board and strangled her with a rope, then smothered Adrienne. Adam Mayes also claimed to have drugged Gary Bain, the husband and father of the family, to ensure he couldn’t stop the attack.

Teresa Mayes said her husband planned the crimes because he was infatuated with Alexandria and feared losing her because her family was planning to move to Arizona. Adam Mayes threatened to kill his wife if she didn’t help him, the statement said.

The judge set new trial dates of Sept. 9 for Mary Mayes and Sept. 16 for Teresa Mayes.