VIDALIA — A fourth man has been charged in connection with a 2014 killing in Monterey, and all four co-defendants will face the grand jury later this month.

George E. Byrd and Elijah H. Hoggatt were arrested in early June in connection with the death of Monterey-area resident John Perritt, 63, in early June. The arrest of James Anderson Jr. followed later that month.

The fourth suspect charged, Desmond D. Washington, was also booked after the initial arrests. He has been charged with intimidating a witness.

Byrd was initially charged with first-degree murder, while Hoggatt was charged as an accessory after the fact to first degree murder.

Anderson was also charged with accessory after the fact at the time of his booking.

The four suspects had their initial court appearance Wednesday. Instead of being arraigned, however, they were given notice that their case would be bound over the parish grand jury.

Assistant District Attorney Ann Siddall said the case will be presented to the grand jury July 30, and should be returned the same day.

Siddall said she does not expect the defendants will testify before the grand jury.

The role of the grand jury is not to have a full trial of evidence, but to examine the evidence to determine if a criminal case should move forward with the charges as presented.

Perritt was found dead outside his Eloise road residence Sept. 22 when someone grading a road near the house smelled something foul and saw a blanket with a human foot sticking out from beneath.

Investigators have declined to discuss the specifics of the case, but two suspects have previously been arrested in connection with the death.

Perrit’s car was found in Natchez Sept. 23 and was later processed for evidence.

Investigators have said the case remains under investigation.