NATCHEZ &045;&045; Murder suspect Greg D. Moffett was arraigned Thursday in Natchez Municipal Court.

Moffett was assigned a $200,000 bond with the approval of the judge, and his preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 8.

&uot;On some bonds, Natchez police supervisors can approve the bond,&uot; Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said. &uot;In this case, the judge wants to examine the bond personally before it is approved.&uot;

Also, Moffett was assigned attorney Eileen Maher.

Moffett, 30, 42 Brenham Ave., is charged with the murder of his live-in girlfriend, Tatanisha LeKeytha Thomas, 26.

A neighbor found Thomas dead in the Brenham Avenue home Sunday. Police named Moffett as a suspect in the murder that same day.

An autopsy performed Monday confirmed Thomas died from blunt trauma to the head, according to Adams County Coroner James Lee.

Monday through Wednesday, police in both Natchez and Concordia Parish searched for Moffett, including a chase from Natchez to Ferriday Tuesday night, which Moffett escaped.

Wednesday morning, Moffett was identified on U.S. 84, just outside of Ferriday, by a convenience store clerk and was arrested around 5 a.m. by Concordia Parish sheriff deputies.

Now the police will continue their investigation of the murder to prepare for trial.

&uot;We’ll continue to develop evidence and interview witnesses to prepare for the preliminary hearing and grand jury,&uot; Mullins said.

Moffett will most likely face a grand jury in March if a judge finds, at the preliminary hearing, that there is enough evidence for Moffett to face the grand jury.

Moffett had a history of domestic violence charges, with three in just more than three months.

Moffett was charged with simple assault (domestic violence) against Thomas Sept. 3 and was arrested on another simple assault (domestic violence) charge Oct. 8.

He was arrested on a disturbing the peace (domestic violence) charge as recently as Nov. 29.

This is the second murder of the year within Natchez city limits and the fifth within Adams County.