A Monticello, Kentucky man who is facing two first degree murder charges in relation to the deaths of a Pickett County father and son in late July is apparently seeking a change of venue in his case, according to a recent article that appeared in the October 1 edition of the Wayne County Outlook.

According to that article, written by news editor Melodie Phelps, a preliminary hearing in the case had also been scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, which was too late for this week’s press deadline.

Josh Pyles, 34, remained lodged in the Overton County Jail in Livingston without bond, according to court officials. He is charged with two counts of first degree murder in relation to the deaths of Danny Dowdy, 58, and his son, Cody Dowdy, 22, who were killed at their family business, the Sugar Shack. The two men were found dead at the business on July 31.

The business is located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border at Static.

Pyles was arrested on Friday, August 1 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Pyles is represented by court-appointed attorney Laura Sebers.

The published report said Sebers has filed a motion in Pickett Circuit Court for a change of venue in the case, which was expected to have been heard at the preliminary hearing this week before a General Sessions Judge.

In the motion, Sebers notes that the venue should be changed “due to undue excitement against the defendant in Pickett County and due to the unfair and inflammatory publicity and the general hostilities toward the defendant from local authorities.”

The motion states that it is the belief of the defendant there are “not many citizens of Pickett County, Tennessee who have not heard of the defendant, Joshua Pyles, with regard to the incident at hand and many are familiar with Mr. Pyles including the sitting judge and the sheriff of Pickett County.”

“It is of great concern to the defendant and his counsel that he could not receive a fair trial in Pickett County due to the publicity, hostilities toward the defendant and generalized fear engineered by the public,” the motion states.

Court officials are uncertain where the preliminary hearing was to be held, since Pyles is housed in a detention facility that is not located in Pickett County. He was arraigned in Pickett County on August 5, where he entered a plea of not guilty.