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Billy Reed Fletcher entered a not guilty plea on charges of escape and murder in Carter County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Fletcher had been charged with felony escape, first-degree murder, first-degree murder perpetration or attempt to perpetrate, theft of property over $10,000, and felony escape.

Fletcher, an inmate who escaped work detail and was apprehended in South Carolina in early July, was indicted with charges of first-degree murder during the commission of a felony, abuse of a corpse, and theft. 

Fletcher was charged with the murder of Victor Birchfield, an airplane mechanic at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport. According to court documents, investigators believe Fletcher murdered Birchfield and stole his vehicle on June 20. After returning to Carter County after being caught in South Carolina, Fletcher gave officials information that led to human remains that were discovered in Butler on July 6.

Fletcher is scheduled to appear in court again on March 17.