Three people are behind bars in Coffee County, Tennessee, in connection with two unrelated homicide investigations – one involving an infant and one involving a man found dead.
Gavin Allen Clark, 21, is charged with aggravated child abuse and first-degree murder in the death of his infant son earlier this month.
The Manchester Police Department is handling the case but has not released any information about it so far.
But according to court records, Manchester police were notified on Jan. 4 that a 5-week-old boy was being flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville from Tennova Healthcare-Harton hospital in Tullahoma.
“The child was examined by two Vanderbilt doctors who found injuries to be consistent with abuse,” the records state. “It was found the five week old child was in the care of the suspect when the injuries occurred.”
The baby was treated at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit but died of his injuries the next day, records state.
Clark’s mother, Kimberley Clark, told the Manchester Times newspaper in Coffee County that the baby’s death was “a tragic accident.”
“Gavin went up to get the baby, because he was going to pick up his wife from work, and when he got the baby and got to the stairs, he tripped over a toy and the baby flew out of his arms,” she added.
Clark is being held on $2 million bond and is expected in court on Jan. 28. He’s being represented by the 14th Judicial District Public Defender’s office. Public Defender John Nicoll was in court Wednesday and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Sasha Marie PaytonIn the second homicide investigation, Sasha Marie Payton, 33, and Tyler Lee Carter, 22, have been arrested in connection with a theft investigation and are “persons of interest” in the discovery of a body, authorities said.
Johnny Tesar, 68, was found Dec. 30 in a camper on Birch Lane. His cause of death has not been released.
Payton and Carter have not been charged with Tesar’s death but the investigation is continuing, according to the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office.
They were taken into custody in Oklahoma last week and allegedly had Tesar’s vehicle when they were stopped, Coffee County Chief Deputy Frank Watkins said Wednesday.
Tyler Lee CarterCourt records show the theft charge was leveled against Carter and Payton the same day Tesar’s body was found.
“We are looking in them as far as what role they may have played in Mr. Tesar’s death,” Watkins said. “There are other people we’re talking to and seeking to interview.”
Watkins said authorities believe Tesar had not been dead long when he was found. Evidence collected will be turned over the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s office for possible presentation to the grand jury, he said.
There are no attorneys listed yet for either Payton or Carter, court officials said. No court date was listed for Payton’s Dec. 30 theft charge.
Meanwhile, anyone with any information about Tesar’s death is urged to call the investigations division at the sheriff’s office at 931-570-3410.
Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.