Rhea man held without bond in fatal shooting

By Cliff Hightower

Staff Writer

DAYTON, Tenn. -- A Rhea County judge said Friday a suspect in a shooting that left a Ringgold, Ga., man dead will be held in the Rhea County Jail without bond.

Roy Len Rogers, 35, of Dayton, has been charged with violation of an order of protection against his wife, Vanessa Rogers, authorities said.

Mr. Rogers also is a suspect in the shooting death of Gregory Keith Brown, 40, Sheriff Mike Neal said. Mr. Brown was shot through a window in Mrs. Rogers' apartment late Sunday or early Monday, authorities said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting and no charges have been filed, a TBI spokeswoman said Friday.

General Sessions Judge Jimmy McKenzie said Friday's hearing was the fourth allegation of misconduct by Mr. Rogers since his wife filed for a divorce in March. He ordered Mr. Rogers held without bond.

"For some reason, Mr. Rogers has an infatuation with this woman," Judge McKenzie said. "To some extent, this is also for Mr. Rogers' safety."

Attorney L. Darren Gibson, representing Mr. Rogers, asked the judge to consider a bond hearing later. The judge agreed.

At one point, Mr. Rogers spoke out.

"This is all a misunderstanding," he said.

Mr. Gibson quickly told him to keep silent.

Court records show Mr. Rogers was issued a criminal summons in April for making harassing phone calls. Mrs. Rogers filed for an order of protection May 1. The next day, she filed a complaint alleging he made threatening calls and drove by her mother's home where she was staying.

Mr. Rogers was arrested and posted a $5,000 bond, court records show.

On July 6, Mrs. Rogers filed another complaint, saying he called her 22 times in four hours. Mr. Rogers was arrested and released on a $3,000 bond, records show.

He was arrested a third time Monday when authorities found with four guns in his home, which violated the order of protection, records show.

Roy Rogers, his father, said after the hearing the guns were antique firearms he forgot when removing several other weapons. The elder Mr. Rogers said his son spoke to a friend and to his brother, Rhea County Deputy Rusty Rogers, at the time the shooting took place.

"My son's got an alibi where he was," the elder Mr. Rogers said. "He was at home."

Mrs. Rogers, reached by phone Friday, said she was glad her husband would remain behind bars. She said Mr. Brown, whom she started dating a month ago, was buried Friday in Georgia.

"It was horrible," she said. "It was so sad."

Mr. Brown is survived by sons age 19 and 10.

"His family has been wonderful to me," Mrs. Rogers said. "His father has called me every night making sure I'm okay."

E-mail Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com