Man charged in rape now accused of killing Kentucky woman

HAZARD, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man charged with rape is now charged with murder in the death of a woman whose body was found in a park over the weekend.

News outlets report 45-year-old Anthony Lewis was arrested Monday in the death of 37-year-old Marlena Holland, who was found apparently beaten to death Sunday. He was set to stand trial Wednesday on an unrelated charge of rape.

Court records say Lewis has an extensive criminal history, including a 1995 kidnapping conviction. WYMT-TV reports Lewis and another man were accused of robbing, kidnapping and killing someone in 1992.

Lewis was paroled in 2017 and accused in the rape just months later. He posted bail and was out of custody awaiting Wednesday’s trial when he was arrested Monday.

It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.