A Lincoln County man pleaded innocent Tuesday in the Novemberslaying of his grandmother, who was found along South WashingtonStreet several days after she was reported missing.

Antwoine Rancifer, 25, entered the plea before Judge Mike Taylorin Lincoln County Circuit Court. An hearing was scheduled for May23, at which time a trial date is expected to be set, courtofficials said.

“The public defender’s office was appointed to represent him,”Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins said.

In January, Rancifer was indicted and charged with murder in thedeath of his grandmother, 62-year-old Irene Rancifer.

Irene Rancifer’s body was found Nov. 12 in a wooded area nearthe old city dump on South Washington Street. She had been reportedmissing Oct. 30.

The younger Rancifer, who had been living with his grandmotherat Brookhaven Apartments, led authorities to the body. Authoritiesbelieve Rancifer was killed at her home and then taken to theremote location.

Following the discovery, Sheriff Wiley Calcote said AntwoineRancifer had confessed to the killing.

In other court-related activity, the second session of theJanuary grand jury returned 54 new indictments during a three-dayterm that concluded Friday.

“It was pretty much drugs and burglaries,” Watkins said of thevariety of cases heard.

Watkins said newly indicted defendants are scheduled to bearraigned April 4 before Taylor.

According to the panel’s interim report, grand jurors heard from48 witnesses. Twenty-five cases were continued for furtherinvestigation, and the grand jury voted to not return indictmentsin four cases.

The next grand jury term is scheduled for April 11.