Bail was denied Thursday for a Warren County man accused of killing his uncle with an ax.

Warren County Judge Johnny Price denied bail for 35-year-old Joseph Patton in the death of his uncle, 62-year-old Alfred “Pete” Patton.

“He had lived with the victim off and on, most recently for about the past month,” Pace said.

Family members found Pete Patton’s body about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Warren County investigator Chris Satcher testified Thursday. When Satcher arrived, Pete Patton was lying on the floor with the blade of a 26-inch Eastwing camping ax lodged in his throat.

After securing the home, Satcher searched Joseph Patton’s bedroom.

“I also observed an estimate for a life insurance policy on a 63-year-old non-smoking male,” Satcher said.

Investigators were able to determine that only Home Depot in Vicksburg sells Eastwing axes and were able to get surveillance video of Joseph Patton buying the ax later used to kill his uncle, Lt. Randy Lewis testified.

Investigators also found several towels and a bottle of bleach.

Under the bleach was a receipt dated from around the time Pete Patton is believed to have been killed.

Surveillance video at Family Dollar on Clay Street shows Joseph Patton buying the bleach, Lewis said.

A bloody rag and a shirt belonging to Joseph Patton with what appears to be blood on it were also recovered and taken to the Mississippi State Crime Lab, Lewis said.

Family members were emotional inside the courtroom. Two collapsed to the floor before the hearing and had to be carried out.

“He was my Daddy, my friend, my hero, my everything,” his daughter Doris Patton said after the hearing.

The family had last seen Pete Patton at Labor Day and was looking forward to seeing him again this weekend.

“He was a great grandfather. He will be missed,” Demarcus Patton said.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield grew up across the street from Pete Patton.

“We go all the way back to the beginning,” Mayfield said. They were not just friends, they were family. It’s very heart-wrenching to say the least.”