October 20th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

A Bedford County judge heard numerous pretrial motions in the case Lloyd Lee "Michael" Welch Jr., who is charged in the disappearance of two sisters. Media outlets report that Welch is scheduled to stand trial April 18 on two counts of first-degree felony murder in the deaths of 12-year-old Sheila Lyon and 10-year-old Katherine Lyon. The girls vanished from a Maryland shopping mall in 1975. Welch's attorneys argued in court Tuesday that he shouldn't face the death penalty. The judge decided to give the defense time to submit more information to argue their case.

The defense also asked the judge to suppress statements Welch made to investigators last year.

Both sides agreed to reconvene Dec. 20 for the judge to rule on Welch's immunity agreement, and Jan. 24 for a hearing on the motion to suppress his statements.