John McKinney-Roberts was found dead hours before he was scheduled to make a court appearance for a special hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

McKinney-Roberts hanged himself in the Belmont County Jail, Chief Deputy Joseph Hummel said. The sheriff's department immediately handed the investigation over to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

The suspect had appeared in court Monday and a judge denied a motion from the defense to postpone the trial.

In addition to a charge of aggravated murder, McKinney-Roberts was charged with robbery, theft, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. He previously pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him.

Investigators said money was the motive for McKinney-Roberts to plan and carry out the killing of his uncle, John Roberts Sr.

Roberts' body was found stuffed in a trash can behind McKinney-Roberts' friends' home in Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, in March 2007.

The nephew claimed his uncle's death was suicide and he was trying to cover up to spare the family grief, but authorities said they had evidence to prove otherwise.

In June 2007, McKinney-Roberts' mother told Belmont County commissioners that her son had been going without water, staying in dirty conditions and isn't getting the chance to bathe. She said her son at that time had lost 27 pounds in about three months. A subsequent investigation concluded that the allegations were not founded.

NEWS9 ARCHIVE: June 2007: Commission Hears Allegations Of Abuse At Belmont County Jail

McKinney-Roberts mother learned of her son's death when she came to court Tuesday.

Officials with the sheriff's department said McKinney-Roberts' death came as a surprise. When asked if he was on suicide watch, they said they had no reason to put him on watch.

"John's been with us for about two years. He was probably one of the most -- how should I say -- reliable as far as day to day operations. This guy was never hardly a problem," Hummel said.

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories: March 30, 2009: Trial Date Upheld For Man Accused Of Killing Uncle May 23, 2008: Man Accused Of Killing Uncle Heads to Court July 19, 2007: Local Man Pleads Not Guilty To Slaying Uncle July 12, 2007: Nephew Could Get Death Sentence In Uncle's Killing April 25, 2007: Man Says Slain Uncle Committed Suicide April 6, 2007: Police: Nephew Is Prime Suspect In Wealthy Uncle's Death April 5, 2007: More Than $400,000 Withdrawn From Murder Victim's Accounts April 2, 2007: Investigators Confident Body Is That Of Missing Man April 1, 2007: Man's Body Discovered In Trash Can; One Suspect In Custody April 1, 2007: Sheriff: Two Suspects Wanted In Connection With Homicide March 31, 2007: Multi-County Homicide Investigation Under Way