Three men pleaded not guilty Thursday in the murders of a Pike County couple.

John Contrel Foster, 20, of Troy; Troy Kentrell McClaney, 21, of Union Springs; Marquisse Rashad McClaney, 23, of Troy; and Brandon Jamal Ryles, 21, of Brundidge all have been charged with capital murder in the deaths of Mark Kelvin Adams and Carla LeAnn Smilie. Adams and Smilie were found shot to death at his home in the Needmore community on April 5.

John Foster, Marquisse McClaney and Brandon Ryles all appeared in circuit court on Thursday for an arraignment. Each man pleaded not guilty and was returned without bond to the Pike County Jail.

Jamie Scarbrough, circuit clerk, said a continuance was issued for Troy McClaney.

All four suspects have been held since April 7 without bond in the Pike County Jail. District Attorney Tom Anderson said in an earlier article that capital charges carry only two options if the suspects are convicted: life without parole or the death penalty.

“Because they are capital matters they typically and rightfully so follow a different disposition path,” Anderson said in November. “We’re going to put them on a fast track, but they inherently move slower than other cases.”