Another Delay In Willis Double-Murder Case Costs Taxpayers

There's yet another delay in the six year-old case against a high-profile Tri-Cities murder suspect. Howard Hawk Willis' attorney Gene Scott wants the court to remove him from the case. In a motion filed last week, Scott said his relationship with Willis has deteriorated.

Willis is accused of killing Adam Chrismer and Samantha Leming in October 2002 and hiding their bodies in plastic containers at a Johnson City storage building. Judge Lynn Brown will hear Scott's request at a hearing on April 17th. That hearing will likely postpone Willis' trial, which is set to begin in July.

Attorneys will pick a jury from another Tennessee county. That jury will travel to Washington County to hear the case. The county predicts the trial will be costly, but after six years of delays, Willis has already cost taxpayers a lot.

One reason, Willis has had nine state-appointed attorneys.

"I think it's pretty ridiculous," Washington County taxpayer Don Bull said. "I can't believe that the judges and the attorneys could let this happen. It's amazing to me."

Delay after delay has kept Willis from going to trial and the delays are costly. The State of Tennessee has already spent nearly $50,000 on Willis' attorneys alone. We learned that by looking through Willis' court files. He has seven in all, the most ever in Washington County.

"It's costing the taxpayers," Washington County taxpayer Steve Deakins said. "We're paying for this."

Willis is costing the county a lot too. He has spent nearly 1,700 days in the Washington County Detention Center.

"Over and over we're having to pick up the tab," Washington County Detention Center Administrator Maj. Brenda Downes said. "If he has to be transported, that's our gas. If he has to be transported to an outside doctor's appointment, there are costs involved with that."

The county won't release Willis' health care costs, but we do know his jail stay has cost taxpayers more than $60,000, money the county needs. With county leaders talking about raising property taxes again, this time to staff the county's two new schools, that money could have gone a long way, like towards hiring about three people.

In all, Willis' bill stands at at least $110,000.

"That's unreal," Deakins said. "I think something needs to be done soon."

"It's a big waste of money and they haven't even had the trial yet," Bull said.

And every day Willis' case drags on, he costs the county even more.

Before Willis' attorney filed his latest motion to withdraw from the case, Willis also filed a motion asking both of his attorneys to be removed. Last year, Judge Brown gave Willis an ultimatum:  "get along with your attorneys or represent yourself."