Oklahoma man accused in 1988 killing faces trial

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) – A man charged in a 30-year-old killing in Oklahoma has been ordered to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge.
Tony Joe Watkins is charged in the 1988 death of 88-year-old Harve Rodden of Indianola. Rodden was found beaten and unconscious at his home and later died at a McAlester hospital.
Watkins, who is now 61, was not charged in the death until this year, after authorities received a tip.
A preliminary hearing was held this week on whether Watkins should stand trial on the charges. The McAlester News-Capital reports that Judge James Bland ruled Wednesday that Watkins should stand trial on a charge of first-degree felony murder.
Watkins is set for arraignment on July 25.