A Tennessee couple appeared in a Rowan County courtroom on Wednesday afternoon to answer to murder charges.

James and Katherine Conn entered not guilty pleas.

They're charged in the shooting death of Timmy Riggs. He was shot in the back in October outside his home in the Clearfield community.

Investigators say James Conn killed Riggs because Conn believed Riggs was responsible for his son's accidental drug overdose.

Katherine Conn is charged with complicity to commit murder.

They are scheduled to go on trial in August.