Tennessee prosecutor says he hasn't decided on Thacker prosecution

Thursday, January 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Tennessee prosecutor says he hasn't decided whether to seek the death penalty for accused killer Steven Ray Thacker. Thacker is accused in the deaths of Laci Dawn Hill of Bixby, Oklahoma, and in the deaths of a Missouri man and a Tennessee towtruck driver.

Thacker was captured Sunday in Union City, Tennessee, and hasn't indicated whether he'll waive extradition. Prosecutor Phillip Bivens of Dyer County, Tennessee, says his state must prove an aggravated circumstance to impose the death penalty. One of the aggravating circumstances includes a suspect's conviction of other murders, in which case it could be in the state's interest to have Thacker stand trial in Oklahoma or Missouri first.