Bomb found in deputy’s mailbox

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Members of the Highway Patrol Bomb Unit move in after detonating a pipe bomb found in the mailbox of a local deputy. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Explosive experts detonated what is believed to be a pipe bomb Saturday afternoon, after the device was found in the mailbox of a sheriff’s deputy.

The intended victim, Kevin Murphy, is a road deputy with the sheriff’s department who has been active in numerous methamphetamine lab busts over the past few years. Given Murphy’s participation in the meth front, lawmen may be eyeing intimidation, or revenge, as a possible motive.

The device was discovered by a family member of Murphy’s when she went to the mailbox in front of their home off Nashville Highway around noon Saturday. Unconfirmed reports are that a threatening note was also found in the mailbox.

Sheriff Jackie Matheny was unavailable for comment as to the contents of the alleged note.

Upon discovery of the strange object in the mailbox, lawmen were called to the scene. The Highway Patrol Bomb Unit was then summoned to inspect the device since there is no local bomb unit in Warren County. The immediate area around the mailbox was sealed off for most of the afternoon given the possibility movement or radio signals could trigger the bomb.

Following an initial assessment, members of the bomb unit attached a remote detonator to the device and detonated it from a safe distance.

Since the on-scene investigation was continuing at press time, additional details as to what type of trigger, if any, the device had or whether it was in operable condition, were unavailable.