SPENCER MURDER VICTIM WAS ALLEGEDLY BEATEN

(05/28/2005)
The victim of a Spencer murder is alleged by neighbors to be Dan Burns, although State Police have yet to issue a press release regarding his death.

Burns, who was known to do yard work for neighbors, lived in Spencer.

He was allegedly "beaten," likely in a rental house next door to the United Methodist Memorial Church on Market Street, two blocks from downtown Spencer.

Sources continued to say Saturday his body was dumped in a rural area a few miles from Spencer.

Burns reportedly had some scrapes with the law and been in the Roane County court system.

Three Roane County residents have been arrested, each on one count of murder.

Arrested and being held in Central Regional Jail are, Raymond Elswick, 40, Joey Hicks, 27, and his his wife, Crystal Kniceley Hicks, 26, a former resident of Calhoun.

SEE earlier Herald story and photos