Becker Formally Charged in Coach Ed Thomas Murder

Mark Becker, 24, of Parkersburg, has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of Ed Thomas.

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jul 1, 2009 at 8:24 AM CST

Story Updated: Feb 10, 2010 at 5:34 PM CST

IOWA CITY (AP) - The man accused of killing high school football coach Ed Thomas has been formally charged with first-degree murder.

Mark D. Becker will be arraigned July 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Butler County Courthouse on the murder charge and another charge of eluding police.

District Court Judge Stephen Carroll continued Becker's $1 million bond. The Butler County attorney requested the help of the Iowa attorney general's office in the prosecution.

Authorities accuse 24-year-old Becker of walking into the weight room at Parkersburg-Aplington High School on June 24 and shooting Thomas several times. Becker had played for Thomas, and his brother is still on the team.

The formal written charges filed Tuesday mean Becker will not have a preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for Thursday.

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