An altercation between members of two families interrupted a preliminary hearing this morning for a pregnant woman accused of murder. Two people were removed from the courtroom and arrested.

Ironton Municipal Court Judge O. Clarks Collins heard testimony from Lawrence County Sheriff’s Detective Aaron Bollinger regarding the arrest of Ashley Seagraves, 23 of 214 ½ Pearl St., in connection with the death of Delmar Jenkins, 53, of 279 Township Road 373 in Elizabeth Township.

Bollinger said on Saturday night before the early Sunday morning murder, Seagraves had stayed overnight at Jenkins house and both were taking drugs. Seagraves said during the night, both she and the victim were lying on his bed and she thought more than once he had touched her inappropriately. The third time, Bollinger testified, Seagraves told him she thought Jenkins had had sexual relations with her. Bollinger said Seagraves told him she became disgusted with herself and had intended to kill Jenkins and then kill herself.

“But the rifle only had one round in it,” Bollinger testified.”

Bollinger told the crowded courtroom Seagraves not initially said she knew nothing about the murder but then changed her statement and made a full confession, even giving specific details on how she did and it other aspects of the crime and crime scene.

At one point, a man seated with the Jenkins family began yelling at Seagraves from the gallery, prompting people who attended on behalf of Seagraves to respond, several other people became involved and all were removed from the courtroom.

After a 10-minute recess, Collins continued the preliminary hearing, finding at the end probable cause to send the case to the Lawrence County grand jury.