Niece Flees After Allegedly Murdering and Torching Aunt and Uncle's Place - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PracTz · 09-26-2004, 08:48 PM

I don't remember the names except that it took place in Lewis Chapel Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee! What happened was that this older couple's house was found burned and their gunshot riddled remains were found in their car (that had been submerged in the Tennessee River) soon thereafter. Their niece's boyfriend confessed to the double-homicide but the niece herself left a bloody palmprint on a gas can found inside the house- then soon disappeared. The boyfriend claimed that the niece had urged him to murder these two for the cash they'd kept inside their house and general store - but the niece herself disappeared before they could arrest her.
Half her family felt she was a heartless murderer to her aunt and uncle who'd helped her and her young daughter over the years while the other half felt she was a victim of her boyfriend. IIRC, she was arrested four years later in Utah but does anyone know if she (and her boyfriend) has been to trial- and what were their sentences?

Blackhawks2004 · 09-26-2004, 09:24 PM

I am not sure the status of the people involved, but I do indeed remember this case. It's a shame, that's for sure.

dynoguy88 · 09-26-2004, 09:56 PM

I remember this case but I haven't seen it in a while.

The name of the niece that fled after the double murder of her aunt and uncle was named Cheryl Holland. When she was captured, the UM update said that she was working at a conveniant store and if she was convicted, she could recieve the death penalty.

That update was about 10 years ago so unless somebody can find a article link about the case, we won't know whether or not Cheryl and her husband have been put to death or not.

Blackhawks2004 · 09-26-2004, 10:15 PM

If they were going to be executed, 10 years would be around the minimum amount of time it would take. This is easily a capital murder case, and while I dont agree with the death penalty, this has 1st degree murder written all over it, and it would be hard for any attourney to prove otherwise.

Kane · 09-29-2004, 09:09 AM

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/opinions/...2/wootenea.opn

While searching through Google, I typed in "Cheryl Holland" and Wooten, and came upon the link above. It is a post-conviction appeal file dated May 21, 1998.

It mentions that Cheryl Holland pled guilty to the murders of her uncle and aunt (Clarence and Mattie Harvey), as did Edward Wooten. They were both given life sentences, and were spared the possibility of the death penalty.

PracTz · 09-30-2004, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the info, Kane! At least they can't harm any more innocents where they are. I hope someone's raising their kids to be as UNlike them as possible!

09-26-2004, 08:48 PM	#1
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Niece Flees After Allegedly Murdering and Torching Aunt and Uncle's Place I don't remember the names except that it took place in Lewis Chapel Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee! What happened was that this older couple's house was found burned and their gunshot riddled remains were found in their car (that had been submerged in the Tennessee River) soon thereafter. Their niece's boyfriend confessed to the double-homicide but the niece herself left a bloody palmprint on a gas can found inside the house- then soon disappeared. The boyfriend claimed that the niece had urged him to murder these two for the cash they'd kept inside their house and general store - but the niece herself disappeared before they could arrest her. Half her family felt she was a heartless murderer to her aunt and uncle who'd helped her and her young daughter over the years while the other half felt she was a victim of her boyfriend. IIRC, she was arrested four years later in Utah but does anyone know if she (and her boyfriend) has been to trial- and what were their sentences?

09-26-2004, 09:56 PM	#3
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,675	reply I remember this case but I haven't seen it in a while. The name of the niece that fled after the double murder of her aunt and uncle was named Cheryl Holland. When she was captured, the UM update said that she was working at a conveniant store and if she was convicted, she could recieve the death penalty. That update was about 10 years ago so unless somebody can find a article link about the case, we won't know whether or not Cheryl and her husband have been put to death or not.

09-29-2004, 09:09 AM	#5
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	They never went to death row http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/opinions/...2/wootenea.opn While searching through Google, I typed in "Cheryl Holland" and Wooten, and came upon the link above. It is a post-conviction appeal file dated May 21, 1998. It mentions that Cheryl Holland pled guilty to the murders of her uncle and aunt (Clarence and Mattie Harvey), as did Edward Wooten. They were both given life sentences, and were spared the possibility of the death penalty.

09-26-2004, 09:24 PM	#2
Blackhawks2004 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 15	I am not sure the status of the people involved, but I do indeed remember this case. It's a shame, that's for sure.

09-26-2004, 10:15 PM	#4
Blackhawks2004 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 15	If they were going to be executed, 10 years would be around the minimum amount of time it would take. This is easily a capital murder case, and while I dont agree with the death penalty, this has 1st degree murder written all over it, and it would be hard for any attourney to prove otherwise.

09-30-2004, 09:30 AM	#6
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Thanks for the info, Kane! At least they can't harm any more innocents where they are. I hope someone's raising their kids to be as UNlike them as possible!