Tenn. parolee charged with killing family

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A man on parole for fatally beating a former girlfriend with an iron skillet was charged with murder Tuesday after authorities found the bodies of his wife, their infant son and her 13-year-old daughter, police said.

Tony H. Pope, 36, a lumber company worker, was charged with the death of his wife, Andrea Pope, 36. Police were waiting for autopsy reports to determine what charges would be filed for the child deaths.

"He confessed to the killing of the three individuals," police Chief Steve Parks said. Parks said all three victims had "extensive trauma" and it was not clear if a weapon was used during the attack.

Pope is on parole for fatally beating his girlfriend with a skillet during an argument at their home in 1995, police said. He had been released after serving five years of a 15-year sentence for second-degree murder.

Police said 911 dispatchers received a call Monday night from someone who said they were concerned about the family's safety. Officers found the three bodies at the family's duplex in Hixson, a suburb north of Chattanooga.

And you know this because? Are you telling me that there hasn't been men and women out there who married an individual without knowing about a criminal past?

I would disagree. I recall hearing about cases where women were duped by husbands who were living double lives. I'm inclined to believe that it would seem unlikely, but it has happened.

My point is this: The remarks of some seems to suggest that the wife was a fool and only got what one would expect from being married to a convicted murderer. IMHO, that's irrelevant due to the lack of information we have regarding the wife and children.

Man Kills Wife And Two Children
John Pless
May 3,2005

36 year old Tony Pope is being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond on charges he murdered his wife Andrea, her 13 year old daughter Brianna Justice and the couple's six-week old son Christian Pope.

According to police and court records, Pope confessed to the killings. Chattanooga Police investigator James Tate said in an affidavit that Pope told him his wife wanted a divorce, but "did not wish for the marriage to end in divorce and stated that he was married until death do us part."

Police say Mrs. Pope wanted to leave the couple's Helena Drive home Monday night with her children and planned to stay with a relative. Those relatives became concerned when she did not arrive.

Records show a relative called Pope asking where his wife was and he at first said she left with a friend. During a call later Monday evening, Pope said his wife was in the laundry room.

Police say relatives then called police to the Pope's home to check on her well being. Officers found the body of Andrea Pope in the laundry room. Upon further investigation officers found the bodies of Pope's daughter Brianna and the couple's newborn son Christian.

According to Pope's statement to police, he cut the telephone lines going into his house and covered an outside light's motion sensor with a towel.

Pope's statement shows he killed his wife with several blows to her head with a hammer. It goes on to say he strangled Brianna, and after she fell on the floor he kicked her in the chest. Pope said he then went to Christian's crib, pulled him out and strangled him. Pope said he put the infant's body back in the crib and struck him in the chest with his hand.

Chattanooga Police fugitive detectives spent the night looking for Pope. By Tuesday morning they got a break. Records show Pope spoke with his boss at East Chattanooga Lumber company about 7:30 Tuesday morning, and talked about fleeing to Florida. Pope was talked out of leaving and remained at the business, records show.

Hamilton County Court records show Tony Pope pleaded guilty in 1995 to killing his then-girlfriend Susan Yarbrough by beating her over the head with a frying pan. Pope served six years in prison and was released. Records also show Pope was found guilty in 1993 of simple assault against another woman and got a suspended sentence.

Pope is being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond on three counts of first degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court May 11.

Pope's Prior Murder Charge
Melissa Riopka
News 12
May 3, 2005 8:44 PM EDT

When East Ridge Police Captain Tim Mullinax heard Tony Pope was in jail for murder, he was pretty sure he knew who Tony Pope was. Mullinax said, "we don't have that many homicides, they kind of stick in your mind."

On a snowy day in February 1995, East Ridge police arrested Pope for killing Susan Yarborough. Back then, Captain Mullinax was a detective and was on-call when the 25-year old man reported the murder. Mullinax said Pope, "called 911 and said he had just killed his girlfriend and needed to be picked up."

Pope, who made the call from the parking lot of the East Ridge K-Mart, told police they'd find the 39-year old woman at 1512 McDonald Road, inside the home the couple shared. Mullinax said, "Apparently, they got into an argument, he never said what the argument was about, and he took an 18 inch cast iron skillet and beat her to death with it."

Mullinax, who was one of the first officers on the scene, said Pope beat Susan Yarborough so hard, the skillet shattered into 19 pieces and, "along with that, he shattered her skull and her throat and her chest."

A jury found Pope guilty. A judge sentenced him to 15 years, but he served only a third of the time. That's frustrating for the man who helped send him to prison. Mullinax said, "some people are rehabilitated in prison, but a large majority aren't, and we have to deal with the outcome of that."

We don't know anything about the wife other than what has been written. For this reason, I choose to refrain from making any assumptions about whether or not she knew about her husbands violent past.

I'm sure it's not something a person would care to share with a potential spouse; "oh, btw, I murdered my former girlfriend with a skillet. Will you marry me?"

You understand my point. Whatever the case, I'm sure she and her young children did not deserve to die, and certainly not in such a horrific way, not that this is what you're suggesting.

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