James T. Meeks IIIAn 18-year-old from Signal Mountain faces three counts of felony murder after authorities say he used a stolen pickup truck to run three people off the road and to their deaths.
James T. Meeks III is being held in Sequatchie County on related felony charges of theft over $10,000, tampering with evidence and burning personal property in connection with the theft of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Meeks is accused of ramming the victims’ Jeep from behind on Suck Creek Mountain’s Big Fork Road in Marion County. He was arraigned Friday in Marion County Circuit Court on grand jury indictments charging him with three counts of felony murder and attempted murder, 12th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney David McGovern said.
Nicholas Scott Clayton, 20, and Emily F. Clayton, 21, both of Sale Creek, and Chattanooga resident Annie E. Blevins, 24, died about 4:20 a.m. June 4. Driver Eric D. Blevins, 37, was injured in the incident, according to investigators.
“We believe it was intentional,” McGovern said, but declined to elaborate.