Lenoir City murder case sent to criminal court

knoxnews.com

MAYNARDVILLE - The case of the Lenoir City man who is accused of killing his mother was sent to criminal court in Union County Friday.

Gregory A. Thompson, 57, faces a charge of second-degree murder, Union County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Mike Butcher said.

According to his defense attorney, Thompson was set for a preliminary examination hearing Friday at 1 p.m. But the case has been sent to Union County criminal court, according to the Union County Circuit Court Clerk's office.

Authorities say Thompson gave his 74-year-old mother, Jacqueline, a lethal dose of methadone at her home on Dark Hollow Road in Andersonville about five months ago.

Thompson's sister found her mother dead Oct. 23 and called police. The investigation stretched out for months as detectives Philip Johnson and Steve Rouse and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Jerry Spoon waited for results of toxicology tests, Butcher said.

Authorities filed the charges and arrested Thompson in Lenoir City March 22.