Ariz escapee pleads not guilty to murder charges

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – An inmate has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of an Oklahoma couple who were shot in New Mexico after the escape of three prisoners from an Arizona prison.

Defendant Tracy Province was shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit when he appeared in federal court in Albuquerque Wednesday with his attorney, Richard Winterbottom.

Province faces the charges in the deaths of Gary and Linda Haas of Tecumseh, Okla. Their bodies were found a few days after the escape last July.

Province was brought to New Mexico last week after pleading guilty to other charges stemming from crimes in Arizona after his escape. He was sentenced to more than 38 years in prison.