A Carter County man charged with the murder of a Sullivan County couple in 2015 has been transferred from the local jail to the Tennessee Department of Corrections for safekeeping.
Eric Azotea, 45, of the Pinecrest community, was transferred from the Carter County Detention Center on Thursday to the custody of the TDOC for safekeeping following a court oder issued on Tuesday by Criminal Court Judge Stacy Street.
Azotea is jailed as he awaits tril on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of abuse of a corpse and one count of tampering with evidence in connection with the murder and dismemberment of a Sullivan County couple in January 2015. He also has a pending court case related to a charge of attempted escape and vandalism after he reportedly broke out of his cell in Januray of this year, but was quickly apprehended by correction officers in a maintenance access chase. Azotea faces the death penalty in connection with the murder case.
Through his attorneys, Azotea had previously requested the court order him transferred to TDOC on more than one occasion. The previous requests were denied by Street.
The most recent request to transfer Azotea out of the Carter County Jail came through the District Attorney’s Office on behalf of Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford.
Due to the nature of Azotea’s charges and his previous attempt to escape Lunceford said the detention center had to house him in isolation for safety resons. Lunceford said that was the reasoning behind his request to have Azotea transferred to TDOC custody.
“They are just better equipped to handle inmates of this sort,” Lunceford said. “He has not done anything recently, but this is better for him and better for us.”
In the order directing Azotea to be transferred, Street noted the request was made by the State and Azotea did not oppose their request to move him.
“The Court finds that the Carter County Jail as well as other county jail facilities in the First Judicial District lack the secure facilities and services to ensure the safety of (Azotea) as well as those who are housed with him,” Street said in the order.
Also as part of the order, Street directed the Carter County Sheriff’s Office to have Azotea transported back to the Carter County Jail “no later than one full week” prior to any scheduled court appearances so that his lawyers would have ample time to meet with him to prepare for court.