Parole board member votes to keep convicted murderer Chris Tatrow behind bars

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

After spending 27 years in prison for the 1995 kidnapping and brutal killing of two people in DeKalb County, 54-year-old Chris Tatrow wants to be a free man but any hopes he had of gaining release on parole anytime soon may have been dashed at his parole hearing Thursday.

At the conclusion of the session, hearing officer Roberta Kustoff, a Parole Board member, cast her vote to decline parole for Tatrow due to the seriousness of the offense but a final decision is not anticipated for a couple of weeks. “The file will go to other parole board members who will independently review and vote until there are enough concurring votes to reach a final decision. In Tatrow’s case, there needs to be four concurring votes by board members before a final decision is reached. Generally, it takes approximately a couple of weeks to finalize,” said Dustin Krugel, Communications Director for the Tennessee Board of Parole.

CHRIS TATROW STORY

The parole hearing for Tatrow, who is serving a life sentence for first degree murder in the killings of John Harry and Roger Zammit, was held at the Northwest Correctional Complex (NWCX) in Lake County at Tiptonville, Tennessee where Tatrow is incarcerated. Tatrow has spent half of his life behind bars because of the crimes. This was Tatrow’s second appearance before members of the Tennessee Board of Parole. His first was in October 2019

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway and Zammit’s sister spoke out against parole for Tatrow during Thursday’s hearing.

“Today, I attended the Parole Hearing for Inmate Christopher Tatrow and spoke in opposition to his release from prison,” said DA Dunaway in a prepared statement. “He was convicted by a Jury of the first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping of two young men. John Allen Harry and Roger Dale Zammit. At the conclusion of the Parole Hearing, the hearing officer, a Parole Board member, cast her vote to decline parole due to the seriousness of the offense. John Allen Harry and Roger Dale Zammit were both murdered on January 29, 1995 in DeKalb County. The trial was held in Cumberland County. John and Roger were kidnapped, held against their will, beaten and tortured over a 3 day period. After their deaths their murderer threw their bodies into Center Hill Lake. Unfortunately, the family of violent crime victims must deal with their pain and grief for the rest of their lives. Roger Zammit’s sister testified today. Her pain was apparent. She stated that “sitting here and him being up for parole is shocking in itself. I have to go to a cemetery to talk to my brother. I have to come to this hearing and try to convince a system to not let the killer of my brother out of prison.” This horrible case devastated the Harry and Zammit families and continues to do so, even today. Please take a moment to remember John and Roger and lift them and their families up in prayer,” said DA Dunaway.

April 7, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller will be unopposed for re-election on August 4th.

Today (Thursday, April 7) at noon was the qualifying deadline for the Smithville Municipal Election. Miller will be running for his second term as mayor.

Meanwhile three people are seeking one of two aldermen positions up for election August 4.

The candidates are Incumbent Alderman Beth Chandler, Don Crook, and Rhonda Tiefenauer. Two from that group will be elected.

All terms are for four years.

In the Liberty Municipal Election, a mayor and five aldermen will be elected on August 4.

Incumbent Mayor Jason Hayes Ray will be challenged by Audrey M. Martin while six candidates will be in the running for one of the Alderman seats including Kendra Stanford, James Ryan Dodd and Incumbents William H. Reynolds, Jr., Derek Johnson, Joe D. Bratten, and Kevin R. Mullinax.

All terms are for four years.

The Alexandria Municipal Election on August 4 will feature a contested race for Mayor between Lloyd D. Dyer and Jana Beth Tripp, who both currently serve as Aldermen.

In Alexandria, voters are to elect a Mayor to a full four-year term and were to have elected three Aldermen each to a full four-year term; and two Aldermen to fill unexpired terms. Only one person, Curtis J. Rutter qualified to run for an unexpired Alderman seat.

In Dowelltown, the Municipal Election on August 4 was to elect two Aldermen each to a full four-year term but only one will be elected. Incumbent Alderman Greg Fish is the lone candidate on the ballot.

April 7, 2022
By:

Mingy K. Ball has announced her candidacy for the DeKalb County General Sessions Court and Juvenile Court Judge in the upcoming election of 2022.

Mrs. Ball is seeking the Republican Nomination in the Republican Primary on May 3, 2022.

Her announcement is as follows:

Mrs. Ball firmly believes that every person, before the Court, has a fundamental right to be heard without discrimination, bias, undue influence, or advantage. Mrs. Ball vows to uphold the U.S. Constitution, the Tennessee Constitution, and laws that govern our great State.

Mrs. Ball is married to Johnny D. Ball who works in the medical field, and together, they have five sons: Scotty, Justin and Nathan Colwell, Lance and Lane Ball, and six grandchildren. Mrs. Ball understands the importance of family and community.

Mrs. Ball is licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the Middle District of the U.S. Federal Court. She has practiced at the State Appellate Level. Since 2012, Mrs. Ball has owned and operated a successful solo law practice in Smithville. Combined, she has more than twenty years of experience working with the Department of Children’s Services; the Juvenile Courts; and the General Sessions Courts; including an array of civil and criminal cases. She worked seven years for DCS in the Child Protective Service Division (CPS) as a Severe Child Abuse Investigator; two years in the Juvenile Justice Division (JJ) as a Juvenile Probation Officer, and two years in the Family Service Division (FSW), helping children through reunification or adoption. She interned two years as an attorney for DCS in the Special Division for Termination and Adoption, pro bono.

Mrs. Ball was the President of the DeKalb County Republic Party for two terms and President of the DeKalb County GOP Women’s Club for four terms. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar
Association and several boards within the community. She has received Certificate of Recognition from the Tennessee Supreme Court over the last several years for her service to the community through pro bono work.

Mrs. Ball supports the Dekalb County Recovery Court Program. The program is very challenging
in that it holds those involved to a high standard of accountability. Successful completion of the program is life changing, not only for those that graduate, but for their friends, families, and the community. She also advocates for the Dekalb County Prevention Coalition.

Mrs. Ball states awareness is key to success and bringing about change.

Mrs. Ball goes on to describe her personal experiences, I know firsthand what it is like to experience the loss of a family member through cancer, mental illness, suicide, and overdose. I know the negative impact that addiction has on friends, family, and society as a whole. I was lost in the system as a child, in and out of foster care, separated from my siblings. I have worked night shift at fast food restaurants and factories, attending school at night and on the weekends, while raising a family. I have been a single parent operating under a parenting plan with all the challenges of co-parenting.

“I have an in-depth understanding of day-to-day life with all the struggles and rewards. Hard work got me here, I am not a product of political favor. I owe no one and I cannot be bought. Through knowledge and experience, I bring an insight to the bench that no other candidate has”, Mrs. Ball concluded.

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