Sullivan County man waives extradition in murder case

Authorities say a man jailed in Sullivan County has waived extradition to face murder charges in North Carolina stemming from the 1989 deaths of an elderly couple in their home.

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom said Friday that 42-year-old Eric Robert Begley of Shelburn, Indiana, had been in jail since May 27 on unrelated charges.

The Asheville, North Carolina, Police Department last week announced Begley was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 75-year-old Allene McMahan and 79-year-old Cleve McMahan. They were found dead in December 1989 after being beaten with a blunt object.

Cottom says Begley implicated himself in the McMahan slayings to officers shortly after his May arrest.

Begley faces Sullivan County charges including possession of a syringe.