A Murfreesboro man has been identified as one of the two victims found outside of an unoccupied house in Smith County, the TBI announced.
The victims were found dead in the house Thursday, April 26 in Pleasant Shade were identified as Devon Clark, 38, of Murfreesboro and Shannon Smith, 44, of Sparta.
"It has not been determined how long the bodies had been there. ... Agents have continued to work through the night and this remains an active investigation," according to a TBI press release.
A call about an abandoned vehicle led the Smith County Rescue Squad to the home where the men were found dead, the Carthage Courier reported.
The deaths are being investigated as homicides.
La Vergne teen slain
Yudjy Cherubin, a 17-year-old La Vergne resident, was shot Monday night, April 30, WGNS Radio reported.
Cherubin was reportedly responding to an ad for an iPhone for sale. He was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville where he died.
La Vergne Police have arrested two teens on first-degree murder charges, as well as other charges. They are being held at the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center.
City Council whittle down candidates for city manager
The search to find a new Murfreesboro city manager has identified 11 possible candidates, The Daily News Journal reported.
The City Council was given 35 possible candidates, which they winowed down to 11.
Those candidates are (in no particular order):
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Francis Donchez, a police chief, Overland Park, Kansas,
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Subhajeet Ghose, director, Louisville Parks and Recreation,
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Jim Bradford, deputy executive director, Installation Management Command Directorate–Europe in Germany (It's a support service for the U.S. military.)
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Patricia Hoppenstedt, interim city manager, DeKalb, Illinois
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Jeffery Eder, city administrator, East Peoria, Illinois
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Steven Thompson, assistant VP, University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service in Knoxville
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Jay Brown, budget director, Richmond, Virginia
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Michael Staffopoulos, assistant city manager, Largo, Florida
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John Dougherty, city manager, Kingman, Arizona
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Genaro Iglesias, chairman, Local Government Practice for Ballard Partners in Miami, Florida
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Davita Taylor, AVP, procurement and diversity, Metro Nashville Airport Authority
For some reason, Murfreesboro Assistant City Manager Jennifer Moody didn't make the cut.
MTSU standout receiver was drafted by 49ers
The first MTSU receiver drafted since 2003 is going to San Fransico, WGNS reported.
The 240th overall pick, James is the first MTSU receiver drafted since Tyrone Calico went to the Titans in 2003.
He started for three seasons during his career as a Blue Raider and became MTSU's all-time leader in receptions (244), receiving yards (3,261) and touchdown receptions (23). He also caught at least one pass in all 31 games he played.
State approves new judge for Rutherford County
The TN Journal reported the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation this session funding three new judge positions in Middle Tennessee, including a circuit court judge for Rutherford and Cannon counties.
Each year, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury issues the Tennessee Judicial Weighted Caseload Study. The FY 2017 study showed a net deficit of 9.76 judges across the state. The three judicial districts receiving new judge positions this year have shown a deficit since 2013 and are the three districts showing the greatest need in our state.
The legislation is effective Sept. 1 and the new judges will be appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to serve until Sept. 1, 2020. Elections for the new positions will be held in the August 2020 general election.
When the county asked the state for the new General Sessions judge in 2016, County Mayor Ernest Burgess said the county will also need to fund a new assistant district attorney, public defender and staff for any new judge. He estimated the additional at that time to be around $500,000 annually.
The state approved that request and Judge Lisa Eischeid was elected the bench. Burgess said during that discussion that the county would need another Circuit Court judge soon as well. It only took two years to approve it.
Top Image: The abandoned house in the 100 block of Dillehay Hollow Road in Pleasant Shade, Smith County. (Courtesy of the Carthage Courier)
Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.
