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Bidwell Man Arraigned On Murder Charges

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A Gallia County man accused of murdering one of his employers faces charges of aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse.

Lee Hawkins, 47, of Bidwell, was arraigned in Gallia County Common Pleas Court Monday.          
 
Gallia County Sheriff's deputies arrested Hawkins last Tuesday after 67-year-old Betsy Ball's body was found March 1 in a rural area near Vinton.
 
An autopsy report shows Ball was strangled.
 
Officers say Hawkins worked for the Ball family on their farm.
 
Hawkins' bond is set at $1 million.