McKenzie Indicted on Second Degree Murder Charge

March 11, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

A fatal shooting in August 2024 has resulted in a second-degree murder indictment against one man.

66-year-old William Anthony McKenzie of Streamer Drive, Smithville was indicted by the new term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury Tuesday, March 11 in the death of 39-year-old Earl Craig Asbury, Jr. at McKenzie’s residence.

Chief Deputy Brian Williams of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department issued the following prepared statement at the time of the incident. “On Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 6:54 p.m. Central Dispatch received a call of a possible shooting at 163 Streamer Drive. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene at 7:05 p.m. and made contact with William McKenzie and then with a deceased male laying in the yard. The deceased male was 39-year-old Earl Craig Asberry Jr. of Smithville”.

“McKenzie, the suspect, was booked into the DeKalb County Jail and charged with TCA 39-13-210 Second Degree Murder.

Upon the request of Sheriff Patrick Ray, the 13th Judicial District Attorney’ Generals Office summoned the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to the scene.

On scene were Sheriff Patrick Ray, Chief Deputy Williams, DeKalb County Sheriff Deputies, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Detectives, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office and Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong.

The arrest warrant stated at the time that “The investigation revealed that McKenzie, by his own admission, did intentionally and knowingly discharge a firearm striking the victim, Earl Craig Asberry, Jr. multiple times in the Turso area resulting in his death. Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, the investigation revealed that McKenzie made several attempts to conceal the body and made comments of intentions to remove the body from the scene”.

McKenzie was among 20 people indicted by the grand jury Tuesday, March 11

All those indicted and their charges are as follows:

Shane Curtis Gardner: aggravated assault

Matthew Dewayne Griffith: false reports

Jill Henderson: disrupting a meeting and/or procession

Markus Jay Majka: evading arrest and resisting arrest

Howard Robert Mayo, Jr.: possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver

William Anthony McKenzie: second degree murder

Martha Renee Kirby Norris: possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver and possession of a schedule I drug (heroin) with intent to sell or deliver

Hani Mohammad Sirhan Ittayem: possession of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver; possession of a schedule II drug cocaine over 0.5 grams with intent to sell/deliver; and evading arrest

Jay Lee Mullican: possession of a schedule II drug (amphetamine) with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia

Willie Ray Murphy: possession of a schedule II drug ( meth) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver

Amanda Lanette Knowles: filing a false report

Keith Clifford Lafreniere: violation community supervision of life (3 counts) and violation of the sex offender registry

Timothy Ryan Lawson: especially aggravated kidnapping; aggravated rape (2 counts); rape (2 counts); aggravated assault; and interference  with emergency calls

Jeremy Trent Sanders: DUI and DUI per se

William Joseph Scott: DUI; DUI per se; possession of a handgun while under the influence

Jason Richard Skaroupka: sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (meth) over 0.5 grams (2 counts); felony possession of a handgun; and possession of drug paraphernalia

Carlos Edward Lopez Stiff: aggravated assault

Michael Lynn Vance: simple possession of a schedule II drug (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia

Destry Jordan Wiggins: DUI and DUI per se

John Brent Williams: especially aggravated kidnapping; aggravated robbery; and aggravated assault (2 counts)

March 11, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

Annexation!

The owners of Hollingshead Materials, LLC (Smyrna Ready Mix) concrete batching company at 746 East Broad Street bordering the city limits of Smithville are seeking annexation of two parcels including one where the SRM company now operates (Map 065, Parcel 073.04) and the adjoining vacant property (Parcel 073.05). The land is situated between East Broad Street, Midway Road, and Terrell Road.

During Monday night’s meeting, the Smithville Planning Commission recommended approval of a plan of services for the proposed annexation. The recommendation will now go the Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen for consideration in the form of a resolution at its monthly meeting Monday, April 7. Public hearings would then be scheduled after another review by the planning commission and before final action by the city council.

According to City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson and Public Works Director Kevin Robinson, the city already has most services accessible to the proposed site.

“We have to do a plan of services to show that we can provide everything (services) the city provides. Of course, providing police service is not a problem and city fire services would be available. The closest city fire hydrants are located across the street. They (SRM) already have city water. It (property) does not have sewer service. They are currently on a septic system,” said Hendrixson.

Should the adjoining property be developed in the future after annexation, city officials said the plan of services would require the developer to put in the sewer.

“If its zoned industrial and they do something in the future like housing then that would go before the Board of Zoning Appeals to get approval for a variance exception to put that (housing) in there but that could be years down the road if they even consider it but he (owner) has mentioned it but not as of right now,” said Hendrixson.

In other action, the planning commission voted to approve a preliminary plat for a proposed 36 lot subdivision in an R-1 (low density) residential zone located near Morgan Drive and O’Connor Street (Sullivan Walter Homes Division).

March 11, 2025
By: Dwayne Page

One adult and five juveniles have been charged with mailbox vandalism by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

18-year-old Aidan Michael Malone of Smithville is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is March 13. The other teens are all minors including a 15- and 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds. Because they are juveniles, Sheriff Patrick Ray is not releasing their names.

The charge against Malone alleges that “between February 17 and 27 he did knowingly and intentionally commit the act of vandalism by damaging mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including a baseball bat, wood, rocks, etc. The combined damage was $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.

“The juvenile petitions allege that between the dates of February 17 and 27 the juveniles did intentionally vandalize multiple mailboxes throughout DeKalb County using various items including baseball bats, concrete bags, rocks, etc. The combined damage investigated by the sheriff’s department is $4,003,” said Sheriff Ray.

The mailbox vandalism occurred on Ike Adcock Road, Old Bildad Road, Turner Road, Patterson Road, McMinnville Highway, Creek Road, Old Blue Springs Road, Antioch Road, Jacobs Pillar Road, Students Home Road, Keltonburg Road, Medlen Lane, Short Mountain Highway, Green Hill Road, and Joines Road.

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