Woman found dead in vehicle in Pizza Hut lot
By J.J. Kindred | (jj.kindred@thedailytimes.com)
A Maryville woman was found shot to death in her vehicle Monday evening in the back parking lot of Pizza Hut at 2515 Airport Highway.
According to an Alcoa Police Department report, an officer was dispatched to a suspicious-looking vehicle in the restaurant’s parking lot at about 10:44 p.m. There was a woman sitting in a silver Lexus SUV, slumped over and not responsive. A Tennessee Highway Patrol officer was also on the scene.
The vehicle was running and its headlights were on, according to the report. The officer walked around the vehicle and saw Amelia Suzanne Hayes, 57, of Jess Circle, slumped over in front of the passenger side of the vehicle.
Hayes’ head was lying on the passenger seat, where there was a heavy amount of blood. She was holding a black semiautomatic weapon in her hand, with the barrel of the pistol in her mouth, the report said.
It was not certain if Hayes committed suicide or was the victim of foul play, but the investigation is still ongoing.
