A former Rogersville couple turned themselves in to authorities Tuesday after they were indicted for murder and assault in connection with the May shooting death of a Lexington man.

Barry Gene Swan, 40, and his wife, Heather Christine Swan, 36, both of Decatur, were taken into custody just before noon and transferred to the Lauderdale County Detention Center, Lauderdale Sheriff Ronnie Willis said.

According to the indictments, Barry Swan is charged with murder and his wife is charged with second-degree assault. The couple lived at 522 Hanna Drive in Rogersville before moving to Morgan County, officials said.

Authorities said Barry Swan is accused of shooting Homer Wood Jr., 40, of Lexington, during an altercation that took place outside Swan's former residence on Lauderdale 656 in Anderson.

Heather Swan is accused of striking a passenger in the car with Wood several times with a baseball bat.

Courthouse officials said the indictments were returned during last week's grand jury session.

Wood was shot once in the chest with a single-action .410-gauge single-barrel shotgun. He died in an empty trailer lot on Lauderdale 656, officials said. He formerly lived in LaPorte, Ind., and had recently moved to Lexington.

Anderson Police Chief Mark Bowers said the shooting was the apparent result of an ongoing dispute over money paid for a vehicle that had been sold for scrap metal.

He said Swan claimed at first the incident was self-defense "but all of the evidence was to the contrary."

"We investigated the case thoroughly and presented it to the grand jury and they decided it was not self-defense," Bowers said.

Swan told police after the shooting that Wood drove to his home, jumped out of his vehicle and came toward him, authorities said. Swan said he was changing oil in his truck at the time and that he asked Wood to leave, but Wood kept coming toward him in a threatening manner so Swan shot him, authorities said.

Wood's nephew, Harley Coyer, 23, was with him.

Investigators said Heather Swan is accused of attacking Coyer when he got out of the vehicle.

"She hit him several times with an aluminum baseball bat. This was before the shooting took place," Bowers said.

Barry Swan is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center pending a $50,000 bond, while his wife is being held on a $5,000 bond.

Bowers said the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office assisted with the investigation along with Florence Police and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.

Murder is a Class A felony and is punishable by 10 years to life in prison if convicted. Second-degree assault is a Class C felony and carries a one to 10 year sentence if convicted.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.