Officials seek to retain the death penalty for murder

CINCINNATI, OH. (WYMT) – Attorney General Russell Coleman says Kentucky’s attorney general has supported the death penalty in one of eastern Kentucky’s most notorious murders.

In 1986, Benny Lee Hodge was convicted of killing 23-year-old Tammy Acker and attacking her father in Letcher County.

Hodge and an accomplice posed as FBI agents to enter Dr. Roscoe Acker’s home in 1985. Once inside, they tied up the victims, forced Dr. Acker to open his safe, strangled him until he passed out. passed out and stabbed at least their daughter. 10 times using a kitchen knife.

18 judges of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit met Wednesday afternoon to hear arguments on Hodge’s bid to overturn his conviction.

“Mr. Hodge had his day in court nearly 40 years ago, and a jury delivered a fair sentence. For the safety of all Kentuckians, it is critical that we uphold the jury’s verdict and finally bring justice to the Acker family.” , Attorney General Coleman said.

Since his conviction, Hodge has filed numerous appeals to avoid punishment.