Steve McGlothlin is escorted out of the courtroom after he yelled out as he heard testimony in the preliminary hearing for Michael Cummins Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Gallatin, Tenn. Cummins faces multiple counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of eight people in a nearby rural community in April. McGlothlin is a relative of some of the victims. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
GALLATIN, Tenn. (AP) – Authorities say a 12-year-old girl who is one of the victims of a Tennessee man accused of killing eight people was found partially undressed and lying on top of a serrated knife, baseball bat and part of a broken rifle.
District Attorney General Ray Whitley and law enforcement officials revealed the details about 12-year-old Sapphire McGlothlin-Pee on Wednesday before a judge sent 25-year-old Michael Cummins’ case to a grand jury.
Michael Cummins is wheeled out of a courtroom after a preliminary hearing Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Gallatin, Tenn. Cummins faces multiple counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of eight people in a nearby rural community in April. Cummins was shot while being captured. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Authorities testified Sapphire was stabbed, but Whitley said there’s no evidence thus far that she was sexually assaulted. He says the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities say Sapphire’s body and those of Cummins’ parents and three others were found in one home. Cummins is charged in those deaths and two others from last month.
Affidavits say all of the victims died from blunt-force head injuries.