Posted on 07/21/2010 9:07:26 AM PDT by The Magical Mischief Tour
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Monroe County deputy has been suspended in connection with the investigation into the case of an election official whose body was believed to be found in the trunk of a burning car.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported Tuesday that Kenny Hope was placed on administrative leave with pay. The newspaper said Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens would not discuss the reason for the suspension or details of the case, in which a body believed to be that of county election commission chairman Jim Miller was found in the burning car Saturday night.
(Excerpt) Read more at wkrn.com ...
This case just keeps getting deeper and deeper...
Gosh.somebody give me a paid vacation fro failure to do my job or other questionable activity.
At the very least,administrative leave like this should be at half-pay pending resolution,with the difference paid later if cleared.
Mr. Hope is about to get some change.
A couple other headlines I read last night said Mr. Hope has said he was told he is a suspect in the case.
I wonder what the motive might have been? Hmmm?
Authorities have tentatively identified the the victim found inside a burning car Saturday evening.
Wednesday, a TBI spokesperson said the Medical Examiner does believe that Jim Miller, Chairman of the Monroe County Election Commission and First District Chair for the Monroe County Republican Party, is that victim. The ME had not yet made a positive id, however according to Kristin Helm of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Helm said the cause of death was a gunshot wound, and the death had officially been ruled a homicide.
The car found burning is believed to belong to Miller. Family members said Miller has been missing since Saturday, and his car was discovered next to a soybean field off Sands road in Sweetwater.
The Administrator of Elections said Miller had worked diligently to make sure the necessary preparations were made for early voting, which began Friday.
"All the major decisions were made, and we were prepared for the election. Jim was here any time I needed him," said James Brown.
Brown spent several hours with Miller Saturday morning. "He spent probably three hours here Saturday, he left approximately 12:30, 12:40," he said.
Later that evening, the vehicle was found on fire on a gravel path off sands road. Brown got a phone call around 11:30.
"Its something you never expect in that situation, we've been friends for years. After spending half a day with him, it was a shock," Brown said.
While he and others wait for more answers, they remember a man they say was always willing to lend a hand.
"Very helpful, whether he knew you or not, he was the type of guy that was always there," Brown said.
Investigators have not named any suspects. The Monroe County Sheriff's office turned the case over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Monday.
If you have more information, please call law enforcement's tip line at 423-519-8477. http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=127647&catid=2
One scenario I haven’t seen addressed is this - what if the body in the trunk turns out NOT to be Miller? Is it possible he stuffed someone else into his trunk and then just vanished? It would give him a lot of cover and a lot of time to get away if everyone thought he was dead.
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