Officials are trying to uphold the death sentence in the murder case

CINCINNATI, OH. (WYMT) – Attorney General Russell Coleman says the Kentucky attorney general has argued to uphold the death sentence in one of eastern Kentucky's most notorious murders.

In 1986, Benny Lee Hodge was convicted of killing 23-year-old Tammy Acker and attacking her father in Letcher County.

Hodge and an accomplice posed as FBI agents in 1985 to raid Dr. Roscoe Acker to enter. Once inside, they tied up the victims and forced Dr. Acker tried to open his safe, strangled him until he lost consciousness, and stabbed at least his daughter 10 times with a kitchen knife.

Eighteen judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit met Wednesday afternoon to hear arguments on Hodge's attempt to overturn his conviction.

“Mr. Hodge had his day in court nearly 40 years ago, and a jury returned a fair verdict. “It is vital to the safety of all Kentuckians that we uphold the jury's verdict and finally bring justice to the Acker family.” said Attorney General Coleman.

Since his conviction, Hodge has launched numerous appeals to avoid punishment.

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