Smithville man charged with murdering grandparents
|
Following an all-night non-stop investigation, Sheriff Lloyd Emmons said George Robert Waggoner, 32, of 1564 Coconut Ridge Road, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with two counts of first degree murder. Dead are Fred W. Pelham, 75, and his wife Ruth, 76.
The bodies were discovered around noon Monday — Mrs. Pelham inside the home and Mr. Pelham in the yard covered with a tarpaulin. They reportedly were shot once in the head with a shotgun.
Waggoner had been charged with burglarizing his grandparents’ home (which was next door) in January and was considered a suspect in another burglary there Saturday night. Five long guns, “including what we believe to be the murder weapon,” were taken during the murder which appears to have occurred sometime Sunday night, according to the sheriff.
The story began to unfold Monday after two daughters, who live elsewhere in Smithville, became concerned after failing to make contact with their parents Sunday night and again Monday morning.
The two daughters drove to the house at 1654 Coconut Ridge Road and secured the help of a male neighbor to check on their parents.
The neighbor opened a door and discovered one of the dead bodies, immediately closed off the area and notified authorities.
Sheriff Emmons and his staff along with two agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began an investigation that got a boost later in the evening when two individuals provided valuable information relating to the case.
“We had two particular people that came forward and provided substantial information and in the process we recovered five long guns including what we believe to be the murder weapon,” Emmons said. Without elaborating, he said the weapons taken during the murder may have been swapped for drugs.
Chief Deputy Milton Bowling said Waggoner was found at a sister’s home on Morgan Drive and was brought to the jail for questioning.
“Based on evidence we had uncovered prior to bringing him in and evidence found during questioning he was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder,” Bowling said.
As for the motive, Sheriff Emmons said “certainly there were guns stolen so part of it is robbery. This particular grandson was charged in the burglary of the house in January and was a suspect in the Saturday burglary.”
Loose ends in the case are still being tied up.
“The guns along with several other items of evidence will be sent to the crime lab for various testings,” Emmons said. “Autopsies are being done today (Tuesday) and they may give us a better idea of the time of death.”
Waggoner is being held in jail without bond pending an initial court appearance on March 18.