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Cody arraigned
Message body The man charged in the murder of Lora Costner was in Cocke County Circuit Court on Monday for his arraignment before Judge Ben Hooper. McKinley Cody, 19, Lane Road, Newport, is charged in the death of Costner, 42, who went missing on January 7. Her body was found on March 10, under a tree on the Jerry Cody property on Bogard Road. The victim allegedly was allegedly killed with a blunt force trauma to the head during a robbery of prescription medication. Cody is charged with First Degree Felony Murder, Robbery, Second Degree Murder, and Abuse of a Corpse. He remains in the Cocke County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. According to Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes, Cody was the last person seen with Lora Costner while she was alive. "He took measures to conceal the body, took measures to burn and destroy evidence and stole personal property belonging to Lora Costner which included prescription medication. Unfortunately this case revolves around prescription pain medication,"the sheriff said at the time of Cody's indictment. Fontes said there are no other suspects in the homicide however he indicated that the investigation is on-going and additional leads are being pursued. In the courtroom on Monday, Judge Hooper asked Cody if he has retained an attorney, but the teen said his mother, former Cocke County E911 Director Kathy Cody Williams has contacted an attorney and is awaiting a phone call. The court told the defendant to move ahead on an attorney "The court needs to know something because these cases need to keep moving." After a bench conference, the court appointed Attorney Nicholas Kear to represent Cody until a permanent decision is made on counsel. Outside the courtroom following the hearing, the victim's sister, Joyce Hale told the NewsSource she had just seen Cody for the first time in her life. "It just made me nauseous. But I am very thankful for the charges. I think they cover the gambit of everything he's done, especially the corpse charge." The body of Costner was missing for nine weeks before it was found, and Hale said the waiting during the search was difficult. "She had been at my house that day and was to come back later and when my sister's mother-in-law called and asked where she was, just before 6 p.m., I knew something was wrong.When I texted her and she didn't respond, I called the police right away. I knew she was gone and I knew it was McKinley right away from the start." Hale said Costner had been to the home of Cody earlier the day she went missing. "The van had been spotted there before it was found later with a slashed tire, less than a quarter mile from his house. We all knew it was him from the start." Hale said her family had been vocal with investigators regarding their belief that Cody had killed the victim." "They worked diligently, gave it their all, and we're very thankful to them that they filed these charges so quickly." If prosecutors decide to ask for the death penalty in the case, Hale says would support that decision. "Absolutely,absolutely. Although I would love for him to live to be 110 years old and live out every single day in prison, and suffer."
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