McMinn County: Suspect confesses in Beene slaying, sheriff says

ATHENS, Tenn. — Jeff Beene didn’t know as he held a gun on a burglar in his Athens business that the man’s partner was sneaking up from behind, ready to grab him.

McMinn County authorities believe that’s how two burglars turned the tables and got the drop on Mr. Beene on Jan. 29. He was shot in the head and died two days later at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga.

Now two suspects in the case are in jail, Sheriff Steve Frisbie said at a news conference Friday.

Daniel Lankey, 30, a Meigs County jail escapee who was captured Monday near Riceville, has confessed to the shooting, the sheriff said. Adrian Robert Hall, 36, was being questioned late Friday, the sheriff said.

The TBI crime lab matched a 22. caliber pistol that authorities said Mr. Lankey was carrying with a .22 long rifle shell casing found at Plastics Industries, or PI, where Mr. Beene was shot, the sheriff said.

Records show Mr. Beene called 911 on Jan. 29 to report he had surprised a burglar in his business and was holding a gun on him. It was the second burglar he’d caught by camping out in the business.

Officers arrive to find Mr. Beene lying in a pool of blood. They theorized that a second burglar grabbed the victim from behind and allowed the first one to shoot him.

At a news conference, District Attorney Steve Bebb said Mr. Lankey had worked at PI and knew the layout. Detective Jerry Wilson said Mr. Lankey apparently had been camping near the building since his escape from jail.

Mr. Lankey was captured after officers were tipped that he was riding in a car on State Route 39. His backpack held stolen goods and he is suspected of several area burglaries, investigators said.

Mr. Hall has been charged with failure to appear in court in McMinn and Meigs counties. No bond had been set Friday afternoon.

“I hope this is some small way will give the family peace and closure,” Sheriff Frisbie said. “It is a result of hard work and good old-fashioned police work.”

Mr. Beene’s family could not be reached for comment.

District Attorney Steve Bebb praised the Athens Police Department, sheriff’s officers in McMinn, Meigs and Monroe counties and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for their close work together. Department

“This has been a case of genuine cooperation,” Mr. Bebb said.

Mr. Lankey is charged with first degree murder and felony murder. Prosecutors will decide later whether to ask for the death penalty, Mr. Bebb said.