LINDEN &8212; Johnny Biggs, 58, of Octagon, plead not guilty to murder charges yesterday at the Marengo County courthouse. Biggs has been held in the Marengo County Detention Center since his arrest in connection with the murder of 83-year-old Inez Watts of Octagon on March 5.

Watts was found dead at her home on March 3. According to Sheriff Jesse Langley, &8220;The victim died from a cut throat.&8221;

Watts was a native of the Octagon community and a retired teacher in the Linden City School System.

According to presiding Judge Eddie Hardaway&8217;s statement, Biggs was accused of assaulting Watts by hitting her in the head with a stick containing a nail on the end, subsequently slitting her throat, which lead to her death.

Biggs&8217; attorney asked he be evaluated by the state on conditions of mental illness.

The district attorney&8217;s office also requested a DNA analysis done on several items of clothing including a coat and pair of shoes, which were covered in blood, they seized from the defendant. The results of the analysis came in the day of the trial, but Griggers declined comment on the findings.

If convicted of felony murder, Biggs could face a sentence of 20-99 years of incarceration. There is no date set for another hearing for Biggs.