Chavis Charged in King Murder

Gulf Herald staff report
Originally published in The Gulf Herald, April 10, 2002

A man formerly accused of helping two juveniles after the murder of their father has been charged with the murder himself.

Ricky Marvin Chavis, 40 of Pensacola, was charged Tuesday in the slaying of Terry King. He is also charged with arson and lewd or lascivious sexual battery.

King was beaten to death with a baseball bat in his Cantonment home Nov. 26. The home was then burned and his sons disappeared after the crime.

King's sons, Alex, 12 and Derek, 13, are also charged with first-degree murder and arson in the case.

Chavis, a convicted child molester, was already in the Escambia County Jail on charges of being an accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence.

After the murder, the King children are believed to have stayed with Chavis in his Pensacola home for two days. He later turned the kids over to authorities. The children have been housed in the Escambia County Jail since their surrender.

According to Alex King's attorney, Chavis was his client's adult lover.

Chavis has also been accused of trying to send a love note to Alex on two occasions. He is being held without bond until his trial.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Bell has issued a gag order in the case.

The trial is expected to begin in early summer.