LEWISTON – Two men accused of killing an 82-year-old man in March were back in court Thursday to plead innocent to kidnapping charges.

David Lakin, 22, of 164 Bartlett St., and Shaun Tuttle, 21, of 35 Wood St., were originally charged with murder for the death of James McManus.

After further investigation, prosecutors decided to pursue kidnapping charges. The state presented the case to a grand jury earlier this week, and both men were indicted on the additional charges.

It is unknown why prosecutors chose to file the new charges. The Attorney General’s Office has a policy that bars its attorneys from discussing cases before they are closed.

Tuttle’s attorney, Thomas Goodwin, speculated Thursday that the state added the charges after refining its theory about what happened on the night of March 10.

Kidnapping generally alleges that a suspect or suspects restrained a victim against their will or placed the victim somewhere where they were not likely to be found.

Police said McManus was beaten in Turner, run over with his own car and then stuffed into the trunk of the vehicle. Investigators said McManus was also strangled with a rope either before or after he was beaten.

The Buick was found later in the day parked on a downtown Lewiston street.

According to court documents, Tuttle and Lakin blamed each other for McManus’ death. Both men claimed to have been passed out inside the car while the other beat and strangled McManus, then ran over his head.

Later, with the body in the trunk, the two men drove back to Lewiston, bought cigarettes at a store and went to a car wash to clean the outside of the Buick, according to Tuttle’s statement to police.

He told police that he and Lakin left the car on Horton Street at Lakin’s instruction, then went their separate ways. Tuttle told police he took a shower, then called 911 to report that an old man’s body would be found in the trunk of his car.

The results of an autopsy have not been released. Police have not said whether they believe McManus was alive when he was placed in the trunk.

According to the indictment handed up Tuesday, police allege Tuttle and Lakin “knowingly restrained James McManus under circumstances which in fact exposed James McManus to risk of serious bodily injury.”

Kidnapping is in the same class of crime as murder, carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years in jail.

Both men have been held without bail since their arrests.

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