Rhea County man charged in mother’s death

DAYTON, Tenn. — A Rhea County man is in jail here after being charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of his mother.

While charges have been filed against Jimmy Lee Kight, 20, in connection with the death of 37-year-old Sandra Lantz, the sheriff’s department still is waiting for a definite identification of the body by the University of Tennessee Pathology Department.

“We don’t have a 100-percent identification yet, only what (Mr. Kight) has told us,” Rhea Sheriff Mark Neal said.

The investigation began after dogs dragged skeletal remains of a body into the yard of Mrs. Lantz’s neighbor on Saturday, Sheriff Neal said. He said the remains were scattered over a wide area, he said.

Still, investigators hope the UT Pathology Department will be able to give a cause of death, Sheriff Neal said.

Mr. Kight, also charged with motor vehicle theft, is being held without bond in the Rhea County Jail.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Kristin Helm said in a news release that the TBI believes the actual slaying occurred on Dec. 16.

She said the district attorney’s office asked the TBI to assist in the investigation.

Mrs. Lantz moved into a mobile home in early December, but had not been seen since mid-December, Rhea County law enforcement said.

Mr. Kight, his girlfriend, Jennifer Waldo, and Mrs. Lantz all lived at the home, Sheriff Neal said. But he said there are no charges against Ms. Waldo at this time.

The mother and son were having problems “in connection with living arrangements,” the sheriff said.