A man charged with the double murder of a Bledsoe County mother and daughter last Friday (December 1, 2017) made his first appearance in court this morning (Monday, December 4, 2017). Officers say 43-year-old Robert Joe Whittenburg killed 46-year-old Deanna Lawrence and 24-year-old Dedra Lawrence in a residence on Sawmill Road. Police discovered Whittenburg unconscious in the home as well. He was taken to Erlanger Medical then later charged with the deaths. In court this morning, the judge appointed Whittenburg a public defender and would rule on a bond later this week. The judge also recognized the defendant from a previous case where he represented Whittenburg and said it could be a possible conflict of interest. That will be discussed at Whittenburg’s next court date in Bledsoe County. In the meantime the funerals for both Deanna and Dedra Lawrence were held earlier this afternoon.