A Greene County murder case has been bound over to the grand jury.
Sessions Judge Kenneth Bailey presided over a preliminary hearing Friday morning for 61 year Kendle Newson of Memphis.While Public Defender Todd Estep represented the defendant, Assistant District Attorney Ritchie Collins presented arguments for the prosecution.
Medical Death Investigator Wesley Miller with Greene County EMS , TBI Criminal Investigation Unit Agent Cara Lowe and Mosheim Police Sgt. Shane Matthews testified during the approximate 90 minute hearing.
Newson is charged in the death of 52 year old Nicole Lynnette Terry of Las Vegas . Terry’s body was found by a housekeeper in Room 103 at the Super 8 Motel near Exit 23 on Easter Morning April 20th.
Wesley Miller testified that he arrived on the scene just after two other EMT’s arrived. EMT Justin Cody entered the room first while EMT Feltner, stayed at the entrance as Miller also entered the room. Miller testified they left the room and TBI was notified as required when it was determined the matter was a criminal situation.
Special Agent Lowe testified she joined other TBI Special Agents at the scene around 1 pm. Miller had testified earlier TBI spent five hours or so processing the scene before turning it back over to local authorities. Ward testified TBI took 52 items from the scene, including two from the victims Mack truck parked nearby. TBI was able to positively identify the woman after finding her ID in the room and check in information the motel.
Lowe went into a detailed description of the TBI investigation which led to the victim and suspect first meeting inside the TA Travel Center at Exit 36 on Friday evening. Video showed the two leaving together in her vehicle and arriving at the Exit 23 location about a half hour later.
As the investigation continued, video from the Lee’s Market across from the Super 8 showed a man coming into the store Saturday morning, and according to a clerk, looking for a taxi. Investigators say they were able to identify the man through phone records from Red Star Taxi. On Monday Special Agent Lowe testified, Newsons’ cellphone pinged in North Carolina headed back toward Newport. With a warrant in place, Mosheim Police and the THP stopped the Newson vehicle then transported him to the White Pine Police Department. When he was asked if he knew why he had been stopped , investigators say he responded “something bad has happened and someone has passed away”. Newson, Lowe testified, waived his rights and began to take investigators through his time spent with the victim, their first meeting in Baileyton and their eventual arrival at the Super 8. Before going to the hotel, the two were seen on video at the store buying power drinks and other items. The woman is then seen handing the man mouth wash and condoms to purchase as well. Once at the motel, he says she took a shower, while Newson says he hide his billfold in another location of the room. He reports he then took a shower, the two had sex, but after that he told Lowe, her personality changed. Later the suspect says he could not find his billfold and an altercation ensued. Newson says the woman pushed him hard and as he moved she fell to the floor opening a wound to her head. Initial investigation at the scene revealed blood, blood spatter and blood covered towels which Newson claims happened as he tried to assist her with the wounds. The suspect said as he put his hand on her face near her damaged eye, she bit his fingers. Investigation at the crime scene earlier indicated half the woman’s nose had been bitten off. The suspect Lowe continued, says the woman soiled herself, then asked him to help her put her clothes back on. While doing so, he said she then fell to the floor again and he placed a comforter on top of her. Telling investigators he could no longer mentally handle what was happening, he found his billfold the left. That’s when, video shows, he went to the store and called for a taxi. Newson, video also revealed, then went to the nearby McDonalds , ate breakfast then returned to the market to wait for the taxi and a ride back to exit 36 where the two first met.
Following his statements to authorities, Newson was then taken into custody on charges of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault and Tampering with Evidence.
Defense Attorney Estep argued the Judge should consider a lesser charge than first degree murder, saying the death was not premeditated. Based on past case history of similar circumstances, Judge Bailey stood by the first degree charge, saying it will eventually be up to the jury to decide. He also said there was no evidence the suspect tried to get the woman any help, opting not to call 9-1-1 or EMS , but instead going to eat breakfast before catching a ride. Baileys comments came as he also denied a request that the tampering with evidence charge be dropped, as Estep argued Newson was not trying to hide anything, but instead was trying to assist the woman with her injuries.
Newson remains held at the Greene County Detention Center on $520,000 bond.
A Criminal Court hearing is scheduled for July 31st at 9 am.
