Grande
12-17-2007, 11:53 PM
Parents Find Daughter Dead In Her Home
Posted: Dec 17, 2007 05:49 PM CST
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Rutherford County detectives are in search of a Rutherford County woman's killer.
Melissa Atkin, 36, was found dead Sunday afternoon in her home west of Murfreesboro.
http://i16.tinypic.com/80vnaeg.jpg
Detectives in Rutherford County Sheriffs Office Cold Case Unit said the first 72 hours after a death are the most important.
Since the department was notified, detectives have worked nonstop and closely with the family.
Detectives hope to find the killer quickly to give the family some kind of closure just a week before Christmas.
"You never hear of anything like this happening around here," said Craig Stamm, a neighbor. "We have children. A lot of people around here have children. It's very concerning to have a house couple of homes down that has yellow tape."
Around 4:20 p.m., Rutherford County Sheriff's deputies received a phone call from 5213 Grassland Drive.
Atkin's parents found her body in her home after they couldn't get in touch with her.
Detective Sgt. Dan Goodwin said first responders did not find any sign of life.
He said detectives contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and asked for assistance from their mobile crime laboratory.
Throughout the night and into early Monday morning, detectives were on the scene looking for any forensic evidence.
Investigators did not disclose how Atkin died.
Goodwin said the department is treating her death as a homicide.
"In investigating this, we always investigate any unattended death as a homicide, it was quickly determined this was a murder, he said.
Detectives are trying to retrace the last days of Atkin's life.
"One of the most important things in this investigation is to find what the victim has been doing the last three or four days of their life," Goodwin said.
Atkin had a 5-year-old son, who was not at home the time of the killing. He is staying with relatives.
"It's definitely a sad feeling to find someone is murdered, especially around the holidays," Goodwin said. "You've got to feel for the family. Can't imagine how her mother and father felt finding her."
The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.
Anyone with information in the Atkin investigation is asked to call the Rutherford County Sheriff's department at 615-890-7770.
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7509537
Posted: Dec 17, 2007 05:49 PM CST
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Rutherford County detectives are in search of a Rutherford County woman's killer.
Melissa Atkin, 36, was found dead Sunday afternoon in her home west of Murfreesboro.
http://i16.tinypic.com/80vnaeg.jpg
Detectives in Rutherford County Sheriffs Office Cold Case Unit said the first 72 hours after a death are the most important.
Since the department was notified, detectives have worked nonstop and closely with the family.
Detectives hope to find the killer quickly to give the family some kind of closure just a week before Christmas.
"You never hear of anything like this happening around here," said Craig Stamm, a neighbor. "We have children. A lot of people around here have children. It's very concerning to have a house couple of homes down that has yellow tape."
Around 4:20 p.m., Rutherford County Sheriff's deputies received a phone call from 5213 Grassland Drive.
Atkin's parents found her body in her home after they couldn't get in touch with her.
Detective Sgt. Dan Goodwin said first responders did not find any sign of life.
He said detectives contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and asked for assistance from their mobile crime laboratory.
Throughout the night and into early Monday morning, detectives were on the scene looking for any forensic evidence.
Investigators did not disclose how Atkin died.
Goodwin said the department is treating her death as a homicide.
"In investigating this, we always investigate any unattended death as a homicide, it was quickly determined this was a murder, he said.
Detectives are trying to retrace the last days of Atkin's life.
"One of the most important things in this investigation is to find what the victim has been doing the last three or four days of their life," Goodwin said.
Atkin had a 5-year-old son, who was not at home the time of the killing. He is staying with relatives.
"It's definitely a sad feeling to find someone is murdered, especially around the holidays," Goodwin said. "You've got to feel for the family. Can't imagine how her mother and father felt finding her."
The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy.
Anyone with information in the Atkin investigation is asked to call the Rutherford County Sheriff's department at 615-890-7770.
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7509537