GATE CITY — Two Tennessee men were indicted by a Scott County grand jury earlier this month for their alleged roles in the Christmas 2011 killing of a Nickelsville man.
Charlie Joe Ramey, 60, of Bristol, Tenn., was indicted on a single count of first-degree murder in connection with the robbery and shooting death of Gregory Jerome Hale at his residence in Nickelsville.
Ramey's alleged accomplice -- Daniel Eugene Norris, 36, of Bristol, Tenn. -- was also indicted on a charge of first-degree murder.
Norris is currently incarcerated in Tennessee for an unrelated incident, while Ramey is being held without bond in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield.
A hold has been placed on Norris by Scott County authorities pending his release from custody.
At Ramey's July preliminary hearing in general district court, the Scott County Commonwealth Attorney's Office presented evidence linking the two suspects to the murder and told the court that robbery and drug activity were the main motives behind Hale's death.
The men became suspects in the investigation after the Scott County Sheriff's Office received information in late April allegedly linking Ramey and Norris to the murder.
Ramey was arrested after a search warrant allegedly revealed stolen items that were taken from Hale's residence.
The Scott County Coroner's Office concluded that Hale died after suffering gunshot wounds to the back and side of his head from close range with a small-caliber handgun.
Scott County Commonwealth's Attorney Marcus McClung said the charges against both men could be elevated to the federal level following a review by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"If a death occurs whenever there is a drug deal going on, they have some stiffer penalties," McClung said. "Whether or not this case meets those requirements, we'll find out sooner or later."
The murder charges were not the only indictments related to Hale's murder investigation that were returned earlier this month by the grand jury.
Carl Edward Keith, 41, of Nickelsville, a now-discredited witness in the case, was indicted on one count of felony perjury for allegedly providing false evidence that led authorities to arrest the wrong man for Hale's death.
Keith is also being held without bond at the Duffield regional jail.
Also indicted by the Scott County grand jury and their charges are:
•Theresa R. Davis, 37, Kingsport, DUI, driving without a license and assault/maiming while DWI.
•Anthony Jason Dishner, 35, Duffield, felony eluding police.
•Chad Andrew Roberts, 24, Kingsport, distribution of an imitation Schedule I or II drug.
•Lisa Renee Smith, 51, no address given, possession of a Schedule I or II drug, possession of a Schedule III drug.
•James Darrell Kemp, 30, Gate City, grand larceny, two counts of breaking and entering.
•Jason Matthew Lane, 34, Gate City, felony child abuse.