[May 17, 2012] 'Blunders' to free murder suspect Tweet GREENSBORO, May 17, 2012 (News & Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A man held nearly a year for the 2008 death of a popular local musician and the attempted murder of his female companion is expected to walk out of jail this week. The lead detective handling the case writes of early "blunders" in an email to family members of William "Billy" Ransom Hobbs Jr., who was beaten to death and left in a fire. The email said officials are dropping first-degree murder charges against Michael Slagle. "The district attorney would be unable to defend the actions and procedural blunders of the original detective who would have to testify in this trial," wrote Detective A.R. Hinson in a seemingly apologetic email to Hobbs' family. "It could substantially create reasonable doubt to a jury deciding the fate of the defendant." Howard Neumann, Guilford County's chief assistant district attorney, said Wednesday that he could not comment on an ongoing investigation. Hinson, who said he would have to confer with Neumann, did not call back. Police spokeswoman Susan Danielsen said it may be Thursday before the department has a response. Slagle was charged in 2011 with first-degree murder in the death of Hobbs and the attempted first-degree murder of Deborah Moy. Slagle, who remained in the Guilford County jail Wednesday, also was facing a charge of first-degree arson. It is unclear how or whether the two victims knew Slagle. "A dismissal is an emotional blow to the momentum of this investigation, however, (it) does not stop the investigation forever," Hinson wrote in the email. Moy's mother, Ola Moy, said Hinson and Neumann told her in person on Monday afternoon they can't go forward because of a lack of evidence. "The family is devastated, hurt and disheartened for delayed justice to begin with, and with no justice in the end, that is what we're looking at," said Ola Moy. "No justice for the man who nearly killed my daughter." Hobbs' family could not be reached for comment. Hobbs, 58, and Moy, then 36, were beaten and left for dead at her Summit Avenue apartment in a converted two-story stone house with a front turret that neighbors refer to as the "Castle." The two were friends. Firefighters responding to the flames discovered Hobbs and Moy and began life-saving efforts. An early investigation determined the fire was intentionally set to destroy evidence, police said. Hobbs was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy showed he died from a brutal beating, including a "crush injury" to the neck well before the fire. Slagle, 38, was arrested nearly three years later in Jacksonville, Fla. Hobbs, a self-employed musician who specialized in blues and Americana music, got his start playing music along Tate Street in the 1970s. He went on to play at venues around the world. Moy suffered severe burns over 70 percent of her body, a broken jaw and ribs, and ended up losing both legs. She has had 35 operations since the crime, and in early June, she'll have her 36th, her mother said. Moy can't walk, and she can't write or paint like she could, her mother said. She's right-handed, and two of those fingers are gone. Ola Moy said her daughter has put her faith in God for answers. Moy said the family is hurting because of the way the case was handled -- and the idea that Slagle has the freedom to live his life as he chooses. "Greensboro deserves answers," Ola Moy said. "I'd be upset if anybody's daughter went through this.'' Hinson noted in the email that it could be a "difficult" search for justice. "I only hope that new physical and circumstantial evidence can somehow come to light that I can find independent of the original detective," Hinson wrote. "I can only pray that both families can find a moment of peace in such a difficult search for justice." Staff Writer Jeri Rowe contributed to this report. Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or [email protected] ___ (c)2012 the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) Visit the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) at www.news-record.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]