A man from Lawrence County, Tennessee faces a murder charge after investigators say an argument between him and his north Alabama girlfriend turned deadly.
James Travis Murks (Contributed by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department)
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department got several calls about an injured woman lying in a roadway in Loretto on Thursday. Deputies responded to the area of Lexington Highway and Peppertown Road where they found Kimberly Johnson Killen of Killen, Alabama with severe injuries. Emergency responders arrived but could not save her.
Killen was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 36 years old.
A joint investigation was launched between the sheriff's department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team. They determined she had been hit by a vehicle. A witness gave a vehicle description and partial tag number. This and additional information pointed to James Travis Murks of Loretto. Investigators say the two had a relationship and recently had an argument.
Investigators went to Murks' home where they found a white Chevrolet S-10 with severe damage to the front end and windshield, which was consistent with the vehicle they were searching for.
After questioning, Murks, 36, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and vehicular homicide. He is being held without bond in the Lawrence County Detention Center.