Two Louisiana inmates charged in the kidnapping and death of an Ohio man who had been in Vicksburg on business will go to trial Aug. 6 in Natchez.

Court records show U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson granted the men’s request to waive their rights to a speedy trial because the case is so complex. Also, the U.S. Justice Department must decide whether to seek the death penalty.

Ricky Wedgeworth, 36, and Darian “Drake” Pierce, 34, have pleaded not guilty in the abduction and death of David Cupps of Sunbury. Cupps, 53, was in Vicksburg in March to inspect the Grand Gulf nuclear power plant in the county south, Claiborne. Authorities believe Wedgeworth and Pierce kidnapped him in Vicksburg after escaping from a prison work program in Baton Rouge.

Cupps’ body was found in Alabama. The suspects were caught about a week later in Tennessee.

“I’m glad to see it’s on the calendar to be tried, although I wish it was sooner,” said Vicksburg police Lt. Bobby Stewart. “But I understand the complexity of the case and the need for extra time.”

The two men are charged with attacking Cupps outside a Pemberton Square Boulevard motel and kidnapping him in his rental car before dumping his body in Bessemer. Cupps was beaten and strangled.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety uses about 160 inmate workers, known as trusties, for various jobs at the State Police compound. Wedgeworth and Pierce had been working as groundskeepers there and were able to get keys to a van and drive off, authorities said.

Wedgeworth was serving time for armed robbery, and Pierce for attempted second-degree murder.

Before they escaped, Wedgeworth was set to be released in 2023 and Pierce in 2024.

Authorities said the men were caught after crashing a pickup in Memphis, Tenn.

Police said that before their capture, the men tied up a county park worker in Jackson, Tenn., and stole a government truck with markings for the Madison County, Tenn., parks department.