MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Police say three serial killers are in custody but a fourth is still on the run. Officers say the suspects are connected to the murders of four people in Shelby County since December 2011.
The oldest suspect, Michael Dean, is just 24 years old; Ashley Carver is 22, Lewis Gibson is 21 and Dean's younger brother, Demetreous Santiago, is just 18-years-old and still on the run.
Ashley Carver had nothing to say in court as the Judge called out her name. The 22-year-old has been in trouble before. She is currently in the county's drug court program, charged with possession of cocaine in 2011. Now, the charges against her are much more serious: first degree murder, which could carry the death penalty.
Carver is accused of luring former Memphis police officer, 57-year-old Charles Jones, to a South Memphis home with a promise of sex. That's where her boyfriend, Michael Dean, is accused of robbing and murdering him, then burning his car and his body.
Dean's court appointed attorney, Gerald Skahan, says, "Right now he's facing one count of first degree murder, the indication is that he will eventually be facing four counts of first degree murder."
Police say the duo also used the same murderous maneuver on Valero worker, Leonard Davidson.
Larry Copeland was appointed by the court to represent Carver. He says, "She's facing at least one count of first degree murder, which carries the death penalty or life in prison and at this point there may be other cases coming through the pipeline, I'm not sure."
Along with Carver, Dean is dealing with drug charges from an earlier arrest.
The third suspect, Lewis Gibson, has the longest record of the killer crew. He has a felony as a juvenile for stealing a car. As an adult, he has charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, probation violation and several driving infractions. However, he's facing the lesser charges in the murderous rampage. Michael Working was assigned to represent Gibson.
"He is charged with two A felonies. He is not charged as of yet with committing the murder, but basically being involved." Working continues, "That charge may remain, that charge may change. I don't know the status."
It's the youngest of the suspected killers who is occupying police now. Demetreous Santiago, Dean's younger brother, is on the run. Santiago has two felonies as a juvenile, bringing a weapon to school and carjacking. Now he's wanted for four murders and like everyone else charged in the case, more charges could be on the way.
Carver and Dean are being held without bond, they could face the death penalty. Gibson has a $5 million bond. All three are due back in court Feb. 27.
