Bond for the Jacksonville man charged with murder in connection with the beating death of his girlfriend last month – will remain at half-a-million dollars.

Richard Thad Pilkington was arrested August 17th and charged with the murder of 48 year old Tracey Callaway Strange, also of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Police state she was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma at around 4:00 that morning at Regional Medical Center.

It remains unclear what led to the argument which escalated to the point of physical attack – Pilkington reportedly has several prior convictions for abusing women, and has two prior felony convictions, meaning if found guilty of killing Strange – he could be facing a sentence of life without parole.

He has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and that case could go before a grand jury this October.

(Anniston Star/www.annistonstar.com)