Woman indicted in spouse's death
By Jessica Stithof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: January 06. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: January 06. 2009 12:00AM
A Maryville woman accused of fatally shooting her husband on Aug. 17 was indicted Monday on a charge of second-degree murder. A grand jury also indicted six others and returned six sealed indictments.
Lula Elizabeth Whitehead, 69, Winona Circle, Maryville, was charged with criminal homicide following the death of her husband, 62-year-old Keith Whitehead. According to earlier reports from Maryville police authorities, Keith Whitehead was shot three times with a handgun while he and Lula Whitehead were inside of their Winona Circle residence.
During testimony at Lula Whitehead's preliminary hearing, Maryville Detective Sgt. Carlos Hess Jr. said Whitehead changed her story three times about the shooting. He said she first said they were struggling over the gun and it went off two or three times. A few details changed in her second story and her third story was that she thought he was going to reach for the gun, so she grabbed it and began firing.
Hess said Lula Whitehead claimed her husband was mentally and physically abusive to her. Hess testified that detectives were also researching her criminal background, which wasn't complete due to name changes from 16 to 18 marriages.
A Blount County grand jury also indicted two men in connection with an Oct. 11 robbery at Subway, 2919 Old Knoxville Highway, Alcoa. Jarrod D. Johnson, 30, Eagleton Road, Maryville, and James E. Coker, 28, McArthur Road, Maryville, were both indicted on a charge of robbery.
Barbara Coker, 20, wife of James Coker and a Subway employee, was charged with filing a false police report at the time of the incident.
Others indicted Monday by a grand jury include:
— Annette Margo Taylor, 34, Wyrick Drive, Maryville, theft over $500 from a March 15, 2007, incident.
— Gregory Scott Wilburn, 37, Calderwood Highway, Maryville, violation of the Habitual Motor Offender Act, simple possession of a Schedule VI substance (marijuana) and simple possession of a Schedule VI substance (Class E felony). The charges stem from an Aug. 24 incident.
— Shawn Jones, 35, South Magnolia Street, Maryville, theft and two counts of aggravated burglary from an April 12 incident.
— Kathy Diane Buffington, 51, Eagleton Road, Maryville, driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), DUI while accompanied by a child, violation of the implied consent law, driving left of the center line and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility during a June 7 incident.
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