Colby Cannon Pleads to Two Life Sentences in 2017 Shooting Deaths of Fiancé and Sister

Our office obtained guilty plea convictions with accompanying life in prison sentences on Colby Cannon for the shooting deaths of his fiance', Bethany McKenzie, and sister, Taylor Creamer, at Cannon and McKenzie's White Wing Road home outside of Lenoir City on June 21, 2017. Loudon County Criminal Court Judge took the guilty pleas in Kingston today and sentenced Cannon (age 30) to serve two life sentences in prison (at a minimum of 51 years before he is eligible for parole).

At the hearing the mother of the now deceased Bethany McKenzie, Vickie Rogers, looked directly at Cannon from the witness stand to passionately tell Cannon and explain to the Court and the lawyers and press that were present how Cannon's premeditated action took two mothers away from five children leaving Nick Creamer to work and care for his family without a wife and a mother to raise their children and how Cannon took Rogers' daughter away from her and her grandchildren. There were tears from the family members and everyone else watching in the courtroom during Rogers' testimony.

For his part Cannon rose to address the Court and the families to say that his actions were split second and that he could not, as much as he wanted, take back his actions now. He went on to say that he did not expect to be forgiven but that he apologized to the children first and then Nick Creamer and Vickie Rogers and the rest of the family members as he accepted his fate.

From our office's standpoint in looking at this case, Cannon has been in custody since his arrest the day of the shooting. Most of that time has been in Deberry Special Needs Prison in Nashville where he could be more closely watched, monitored and better evaluated. Through his attorney and others Cannon has always insisted on his guilt and his willingness to accept the ultimate punishment for his actions. The facts of this case, no matter how aggregious they may seem, do not meet any of the criteria under Tennessee state law for the death penalty or life without parole, which requires prior criminal violent criminal history or other factors not present in this case. Also, the Loudon County Sheriff's investigation showed a thread of text messages from a Cannon family member that probably incited Colby Cannon to do harm towards his fiance' based on probably false information and stories the woman was telling Cannon about the fiance'.

The recommendation from the Court as a result of this plea was for Cannon to return to Special Needs Prison, but it is likely that TDOC will house him in one of its regular prisons once he his processed at Bledsoe Correctional on Friday.

ADAs Bob Edwards and Jonathan Edwards prosecuted this case for District Attorney General Russell Johnson's office. Attorney Robert Kurtz of Knoxville represented Cannon. Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider's Office handled the investigation of this case.