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Judge considers trial options for inmate accused of killing Putnam Co. corrections officers

Donnie Rowe faces the death penalty for gunning down two corrections officers during an escape.

EATONTON, Ga. — An inmate accused of killing two Central Georgia corrections officers could go on trial by the end of the year.

Donnie Rowe faces the death penalty for the 2017 murders of Curtis Billue and Christopher Monica during an escape attempt.

RELATED: The complete timeline of the capture of escaped inmates Ricky Dubose and Donnie Rowe

RELATED: DA seeking death penalty against man accused of killing two officers

RELATED: Donnie Rowe pleads not guilty in guards' deaths

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills says during a hearing earlier this week, the defense and prosecution agreed to have a jury from Grady County hear the case -- that’s in southwest Georgia near Cairo.

Sills says Ocmulgee Circuit Judge Brenda Trammell wanted to discuss that possibility with the chief judge in Grady County before reaching a final decision.

Possibilities include moving the trial down there, or bringing a jury up to Central Georgia.

The judge also discussed a possible early November trial date, but that isn’t decided yet either.

Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Stephen Bradley says they hope to finalize the jury situation and trial date during a hearing scheduled for February 27.

The death penalty trial for inmate Ricky Dubose, who is also accused of murdering the officers during the escape with Rowe, is scheduled to begin on September 30.

RELATED: Trial for accused killer of Putnam Co. corrections officers set for next fall

The escape ended with a nationwide manhunt that ended days later with the men getting caught in Tennessee.

RELATED: Putnam sheriff delivers about $90k in reward money in Tennessee for inmates' capture

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