Damon Bethea on trial for 2014 double murder

Testimony began April 4 in the case of a New Jersey man facing charges of murder, robbery and home invasion for his involvement in the January 2014 double murders of Cletis Nelson and William Hopkins at Nelson’s trailer home on Harmons Hill Road in Millsboro.

Damon Bethea, 32, of Camden, N.J., resembled an accounting student more than a murder defendant, with his black-rimmed glasses, light-colored dress shirt and khakis, but prosecutors say he was one of the triggermen in the double murder, with his cousins, Rhamir Waples, 21, and Richard Robinson, 22. Many of the witnesses in Bethea’s trial have been the same as those in the February trial of Waples, who was convicted of more than 20 charges and faces up to life in prison.

Deputy medical examiner Dr. Edward McDonough testified that Hopkins was shot 12 times, with up to 20 separate gunshot wounds, including three shots to the head and six shots to his left arm that hit his heart and lung. McDonough said Nelson was shot eight times, with two shots to the head and six shots to his right side. Three different bullet types were found in the bodies, McDonough said, a .40-caliber, a .32-automatic and a .22-caliber.

Prosecutors Chris Hutchison and Martin Cosgrove began putting together the timeline of events that led to the murders with the testimony of Edward Cannon and Rachel Rentoul.

During Waples’ trial, Cannon had refused to testify, forcing prosecutors to play prior police interviews in place of Cannon’s testimony. When he was called April 4, Cannon again made clear his intention not to talk, fearing for his safety. After clearing out the jury, Judge Jane Brady told Cannon he had no legal reason not to talk, and ordered Cannon to answer the questions. When Cannon again protested for his safety, Brady held firm and again ordered him to testify or possibly be held in contempt. Cannon relented and the jury returned to hear his testimony.

Cannon said he rented the trailer on Harmons Hill Road in late fall 2013, with his friend Nelson moving in after Christmas. Cannon said he had been in a work-release program but then walked away. Cannon is serving five years in prison for escaping the program.

He said Nelson had begun a relationship with Rachel Rentoul, and the three had driven Cannon to Rehoboth Shores to get his hair cut. Cannon said he decided to stay there and party with some friends, using cocaine and marijuana. He said when the party broke up, he went back home where he found Nelson and Hopkins dead. Cannon said he got in touch with Rentoul and told her what had happened. He said he planned to get out of town and went back to the trailer to get clothes and Nelson’s cellphone; Cannon said he was planning to contact Nelson’s family to tell them what happened, but he didn’t. Cannon said he was with Rentoul when he contacted a relative to arrange for cash and a cellphone. He testified he then had a change of heart, and called the police to tell them what happened to Nelson and Hopkins, in an effort to clear his name.

When asked by defense attorney Tom Donovan, Cannon said he did not know Bethea personally.

Rentoul testified she had been dating Nelson and buying heroin from him at half price. Rentoul admitted to using drugs in copious amounts, which she said began in 2012 when her kids were taken away from her. She said she used up to two bundles - 26 bags - of heroin a day, plus a gram of cocaine or crack, as well as Xanax and marijuana. Rentoul was working as a prostitute to support her habit, along with her friend, Jackie Heverin.

Rentoul said the day before the murders, she had an encounter at a liquor store with a man in a white Lexus - identified at the Waples trial as Shamir Stratton - and the two exchanged numbers. After a night out, Rentoul said she returned to Nelson’s house, where the two got into an argument over other girls contacting Nelson. On Jan. 13, Rentoul said, she was contacted by Carlton Gibbs, and along with Heverin, the trio rented a room at a hotel in Long Neck. Rentoul said she made multiple trips to Nelson’s to buy more heroin. After the last of these trips, Rentoul said four men had joined the party with Gibbs, including Stratton, who she recognized from earlier, and Steve Kellam, known as Silk.

With the men present, Rentoul said she called Nelson to arrange for more heroin, which drew the attention of the other men. When they inquired who she was talking to, she mentioned Nelson and Hopkins, and that they had heroin and cash in the house. Rentoul said the others perked up at the mention of Hopkins, who they believed was responsible for hitting Stratton in the head with a bottle during a fight at a club the night before, and was involved in a fight with Kellam’s brother. Rentoul said when the idea came up to rob Nelson and Hopkins, she agreed to show them where the house was.

Prosecutors say from there, Kellam, Gibbs, Waples, Bethea, Robinson and Stratton hashed out the details of the crime. The guns belonged to Kellam, and Stratton was the agreed-upon getaway driver. Prosecutors say the order to kill came from Kellam; Bethea, Robinson and Waples entered the house through a bathroom window, encountered Nelson and Hopkins and shot them.

The trial will continue Wednesday, April 5.