GUILTY AR - Bobby Hampton, 54, Monticello, 8 January 2008

DREW COUNTY OFFICIALS FOUND THE BODY OF 54- YEAR-OLD BOBBY HAMPTON OF MONTICELLO AROUND 8-45 SATURDAY MORNING. . . AUTHORITIES SAY THEY MADE AN ARREST IN HAMPTON'S DEATH, BUT WOULD NOT ELABORATE. . .

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MISSING MAN'S BUSINESS PARTNER ACCUSED OF MURDER IN MONTICELLO

MONTICELLO - A Drew County man has been arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated assault after his business partner, Bobby Hampton of Monticello , was found dead behind a rural deer club.

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Bond was denied Monday for Dennis Gary Riley, 56, of Monticello . Thomas Deen, 10th Judicial District prosecutor, said he anticipates seeking the death penalty in the murder.

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Gary Riley escaped a possible death sentence Thursday afternoon when he pleaded guilty to the robbery and shooting death of Bobby Hampton, whose body was discovered at a deer camp about 10.5 miles north of Monticello on February 9, one month after Hampton disappeared from his Calhoun Street home.

As part of an eleventh-hour plea agreement with 10th Judicial District Prosecutor Thomas Deen, approved by Hampton's family, Riley pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated robbery. He received two life sentences. He will not be eligible for parole...

Riley admitted that he shot Hampton in the back with a shotgun on January 8 and took $7 from his wallet after the 54-year-old man declined to repay $750 he allegedly owed him.

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