Jess Leroy Lovelady, a 75-year-old white man, was stabbed to death on May 3, 1978.

Battenfield is reported to have committed similar crimes in other states, including the June 1977 murder of 51-year-old Thelma Ruth McCarty in McKinney, Texas, and the killing of 83-year-old Edward Elkington in or near Tucumcari, New Mexico. In the Elkington case an identified accomplice, described as 15 years old at the time, later cooperated and led police to a burial site. Battenfield was convicted and received a 10-to-50-year sentence for one of the murders; he was also arrested and convicted in connection with Lovelady’s death.

Anyone who knew Jess Lovelady, saw him in early May 1978, or has information about these crimes is asked to come forward.