Audio clip
Dan Ripper
A Chattanooga man convicted of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse was sentenced Wednesday morning in Hamilton County Criminal Court to one year in prison for the latter offense.
Timothy Tylus Sorrells, 41, had been sentenced to life in prison in January for the first-degree murder conviction after a jury found him guilty of both charges. He was convicted in connection with the strangulation death of 53-year-old Virginia Knight in May 2006.
Mr. Sorrells is eligible for parole after 51 years, said Executive Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston, and his one-year sentence will run concurrent with his life sentence.
Defense attorney Dan Ripper said the sentence, handed down by Judge Don Poole, was not going to add any more time to Mr. Sorrells’ sentence on the murder conviction.
“It’s more efficient for the court, easier for the family, easier for Mr. Sorrells, easier for the state,” Mr. Ripper said.
Sentencing also was pushed forward because the April 4 motion hearing for a new trial could not be heard until Mr. Sorrells was sentenced, Mr. Ripper said.
The defense plans to challenge the first-degree murder conviction and will argue the killing was not premeditated, Mr. Ripper said.
Ms. Knight’s body was found two days after Mr. Sorrells was seen with her, and her pelvis was broken in eight places, according to testimony by Hamilton County Medical Examiner Frank King during the January trial.
Her decomposed remains were found along Asbury Park Drive hidden by trash and debris.
