Anderson man pleads not guilty in girlfriend's slaying

LAWRENCEBURG — An Anderson County man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge in the slaying of a woman during Labor Day weekend.

Gary M. Bancroft, 33, was arraigned by video before Anderson District Judge Linda Armstrong. The judge appointed public advocate Scott Getsinger to represent Bancroft, and Getsinger entered the plea on Bancroft's behalf.

Bancroft is accused of killing his girlfriend, Frances Renee Mobley, 33, of Mount Eden. Her body was found Saturday in a container at Bancroft's home on Bardstown Road in Anderson County. The county coroner said earlier this week that Mobley had been slashed to death.

Bancroft was being held in the Franklin County jail on a $500,000 full cash bond. Judge Armstrong would not reduce the bond.

The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for Sept. 16 in Anderson District Court. At that time, she will hear evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.

This story was originally published September 9, 2010 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Anderson man pleads not guilty in girlfriend's slaying."