HAMILTON — A 1999 Butler County murder case that ended with a hung jury in August will be retried today.

        Randy Young, 38, is accused of killing Tammy Esther McClellan, a 36-year-old mother of two whose body was found in Hamilton's Crawford Woods Park.

        She died from the combined effects of cocaine use and a physical attack, the county coroner has said.

        Mr. Young faces 15 years to life if convicted.

        Assistant Prosecutor Lee Oldendick and defense lawyer Melynda Cook-Reich will again face off in the trial, which is expected to last three to five days in the courtroom of Judge Keith Spaeth, officials said.

        Mr. Young was arrested in September 2000, more than a year after Ms. McClellan's death. A convicted burglar who was on parole at the time of the slaying, Mr. Young reportedly was the last person seen with Ms. McClellan.

        But Ms. Cook-Reich has said that doesn't mean her client killed Ms. McClellan, and she will try to persuade a jury to exonerate him.

        Mr. Oldendick has acknowledged the case is difficult because circumstantial evidence ties it together.

        Judge Spaeth declared a mistrial Aug. 15 after jurors deadlocked after about nine hours.

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