Defendant: Lawyer's wife involved in murder-for-hire plot | News

TALLADEGA COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- Was it a murder for hire scheme that left a Sylacauga attorney dead last year? That's what one of four defendants in the death of Blake Lazenby told police. The issue came up this week during a preliminary hearing for Earnest James Files, Jr. Files, Jr. is charged with solicitation of and conspiracy to commit murder in the Lazenby case.

During Files' hearing, prosecutors played a taped statement from another co-defendant in the case, Calvin McCall Haynes. Haynes gave the statement to Birmingham Police in January. He told detectives that the 56-year old Files, Jr. approached him a year ago about murdering the husband of the woman he was dating. Haynes said Files was in a white Chevy Silverado with Blake Lazenby's wife.

Haynes told police Lazenby's wife said, "I have all the money right here. I just want the job done." Haynes said he didn't want any part of the murder, but approached another man, Ocie Lee Lynch, with the offer. Haynes says Lynch agreed to commit the murder for $40,000. Lynch is charged in the case with two counts of capital murder committed during a burglary in the first degree.

After hearing all the evidence, Judge Ryan Rumsey bound Earnest Files, Jr. over to the grand jury. Haynes' case was bound over to a grand jury late last month. A preliminary hearing for Lynch will be held in early May.

A fourth suspect, Charles Andrew Joseph Hendrix, is also charged with capital murder, burglary and theft of property. As for the arrest of Blake Lazenby's wife, Geanne Lazenby, the Talladega County D.A. will not say if charges will be filed against her or not. Court records shows Geanne filed for divorce in 2008.

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