Tenn. mother allegedly tried to hire hit man to kill witness in her teen son’s slaying
06/15/2023 1:39 pm PDT
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (TCD) -- A 42-year-old woman is in custody after allegedly trying to hire someone to kill a person who witnessed her 17-year-old son’s slaying.
According to a news release from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, on June 12 and June 13, investigators spoke with an informant who told officials that Ashley Brown tried to hire them to "kill a witness in the November 2022 murder of her son, Gavin Brown."
On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, Sheriff’s Office investigators found Gavin Brown deceased on the 100 block of County Hill Road in Blountville, Tennessee, WCYB-TV reports. Korey Barnette, 23, and Mason Dubois, 21, were charged in connection with the case and booked into the Sullivan County Jail. Barnette was charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, while Dubois was charged with especially aggravated robbery and accessory after the fact.
The victim’s mother, Ashley Brown, allegedly met with the informant, who posed as a hit man, and instructed them to kill the witness and stage it as a suicide. Brown reportedly said she "did not want to be tied to the murder," nor did she want to go to jail. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the informant told officials Brown had the witness’ work schedule, workplace, and car information.
Brown reportedly said she would "have to leave town" if she killed the witness herself. The informant told the Sheriff’s Office that Brown was worried she would seem guilty and assured the informant that since they "had no ties to her son’s murder," they "would not have anything to worry about."
The Sheriff’s Office arrested Brown on a charge of soliciting first-degree murder, and she was booked into the Sullivan County Jail with a $500,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court June 20.
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