Marital problems apparently led to the murder-suicide of a Gleason woman and McKenzie man, who were each found dead Wednesday morning on separate properties they owned in the two towns. Residents of both communities were shocked as word of the deaths of the "well-liked couple" spread throughout the towns.

According to reports pieced together from McKenzie and Weakley County authorities, O.C. Scott of McKenzie apparently went to his former home in Gleason Wednesday morning where he allegedly shot his wife of 40 years, Verlie May Scott, and then returned to McKenzie, where he took his own life.

Verlie, age 62, and O.C., age 66, were in the process of divorcing. According to Weakley County authorities, O.C. was under a restraining order to avoid contact with his wife when the incident occurred.

Verlie had been employed as a teacher at Northwest Tennessee Head Start for 25 years and O.C. was a retired employee of the H.C. Spinks Clay Company and owned several rental properties in McKenzie.

The Scotts had two daughters together, Joyce Scott-Banks of McKenzie, who is employed by Tennessee Department of Health as Care Coordinator for Children's Special Services Program for Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties, and Doris Battle, who is employed as assistant superintendent of Haywood County Schools. O.C. Scott also reportedly had two sons from other relationships, Ricky Price of McKenzie, who is long-time employee of Pepsi; and Tyrone Warren of McKenzie, who is employed as a construction laborer.

McKenzie Police Department received a call at 10 a.m. Wednesday from Ricky Price, stating that he and Tyrone had found O.C. on his farm off Haynes and South Park Streets in McKenzie.

According to Carroll County Coroner Steve Cantrell, Mr. Scott's body was found lying beside a shed near a field road leading onto the property. Two RV's are the only housing on the property.

The deceased was found face down on the ground, said Cantrell. The death was ruled to be have been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A 16-gauge shotgun was found at the scene, the coroner said. No note of explanation had been found at press time, he said.

According to Cantrell, Tyrone told him Scott was at his home at 70 West Jackson when he went to bed at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. When he (Tyrone) got up at 4:30 a.m., Scott was gone. Mr. Scott had been staying at Tyrone's home since his estrangement from his wife several months prior.

O.C. reportedly returned to Warren's home at approximately 8:40 a.m. and told Tyrone to call Ricky (Price) and his daughter, Doris, in Brownsville and for the three of them to "meet him at the farm - that he wanted to talk to them about something." He also reportedly told Tyrone not to come alone.

Cantrell said Tyrone told him he was not aware that anything was wrong and said his father was "just acting as usual." Tyrone reportedly told authorities, to his knowledge, Scott did not leave the house with any type of weapon.

Ricky told the Banner that Tyrone called him at work in Paris to tell him of his father's request and he immediately headed to McKenzie. He said he went by Tyrone's home to pick him up before proceeding to the farm.

Through interviewing Ricky and Tyrone following the discovery of Scott's body, authorities discovered that O.C. and his estranged wife had been experiencing recent problems, Cantrell said. The decision was made to contact Gleason Police Department to conduct a well-being check on the deceased's wife.

Verlie's Body Discovered

Gleason Police Chief Edmund Stewart said he was contacted by MPD Assistant Chief Bobby Pate to check on Mrs. Scott after family members could not reach her by phone.

Chief Stewart said he arrived at the home at 218 Gibbs Street at 10:20 a.m. and checked all the doors and windows but couldn't get anyone to the door and could not gain entry into the home. He stated Ms. Scott's car was in the garage, however.

Chief Stewart said he summoned Public Works Director Dale Stephens to bring him a screwdriver and hammer to the scene. The two then forced a door and gained entrance to the home, but did not initially find the victim. The chief said he contacted McKenzie authorities, who then suggested on the advise of family members that he check a detached washroom. Stewart and Stephens walked around to the locked washroom and it was then that Stephens, looking through a window, spotted the victim lying near the door. The two pried open a door to gain entrance to the room.

Chief Stewart said Mrs. Scott sustained two gunshot wounds, believed at this time to have been inflicted by two separate weapons. A .22 caliber weapon apparently inflicted a wound to the chest while a massive head wound may have been caused by a shotgun, the chief noted. A .22 caliber spent casing was found near the body, he added.

The chief added that it is not known which wound was inflicted first, but noted it would not seem necessary to have shot her a second time if the initial wound was made by the shotgun. There was no sign of a struggle in the room, he said.

Chief Stewart said to his knowledge a .22 caliber weapon has not been found at either crime scene.

Verlie's daughter Joyce said her mother had been sick with flu-like symptoms for several days and only worked part of the day Monday and not at all Tuesday. She reportedly called Head Start in Dresden at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, advising that she was still ill and would not be reporting to work that date.

Chief Stewart speculated that O.C. was likely waiting for Verlie to exit the house to go to work and surprised her in the washroom, unaware that she was ill and would not be going to work.

"She (Verlie) was dressed in night clothes and a housecoat and had a jacket over that. She had keys in her hand," said GPD Chief.

A lesson plan book that she used in her teaching was found in the room. Joyce speculates that her mother may have gone to the car or washroom to retrieve the book.

"She carried that lesson plan with her almost everywhere she went," said Joyce. "She was very into teaching and providing good lesson plans."

Both bodies were sent to U.T. Medical Center in Memphis for autopsies. Results of those autopsies were unable at press time.

The couple was buried side by side Sunday at Hopewell Cemetery in Gleason at their children's request.
      

The record-breaking 2001 Rebel Football Team was honored at the January 10 meeting of the McKenzie City Council with a resolution commending the team for the example set this season.

The resolution reads, in part, "We, the Board of Mayor and Council, are extremely proud of the example that this team has set and their outstanding achievements."

The team achieved the all-time McKenzie High School record of 13 wins to one loss. During the regular season, the McKenzie Rebels defeated Obion County, Camden, Trenton, Adamsville, West Carroll, Riverside, Dyer County, Chester County, Lexington, and Huntingdon. During the TSSAA playoff, they won against Fairview, Loretto and Lewis County.

The winning season was the result of long hours of hard work for the young men and coaches toward achieving a vision, said high school principal Terry Howell, who also characterized the winning season as a community effort.

"The community supported the school and these young men. I know the coaches appreciated it."

Mr. Howell related that football is a teacher of life-skills, regardless of whether the team wins or loses.

"One thing I have always wanted to see is winning the TSSAA sportsmanship award," he related to the council and guests. "The game is a little bit bigger than just athletics."

Bruce Anderson Honored as McKenzie's First Annual Christian Athlete Award Recipient

Mayor Patty Edwards announced the creation of an annual award to honor a Christian athlete who is active in church and community affairs as well as being a participant in the school's athletic programs.

This year's recipient is Bruce Anderson, son of Larry and Dianne Anderson and the grandson of Gene and Willie Mae Anderson of McKenzie and Jim and Jane Bruce of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. A right tackle offensive on the McKenzie Rebel football team, Bruce is a member of the Beta Club, Science Club, Library Club, Key Club and the Student Council. A member of the First United Methodist Church, he participates in the church's tutoring ministry for Hispanic youth and was active in the church's project ministry. Bruce plans to attend Austin Peay University where he will study computer information science.

"This young man serves his church and community; he's a role model on the football field and off," stated Mayor Edwards.

Dotson Street One-Way from Woodrow Street to Cherry Street

School Safety Officer Jackie Sykes recommended making Dotson Street one-way from Woodrow Street to Cherry Street, with a left turn only, after investigating concerns of City Council Member Darra Adkins that the street is impassable for two cars meeting and that the road constitutes a hazard at its intersection on Cherry Street.

Officer Sykes recommended that the street be made one-way at least during the hours when students are being brought to and transported from school. Council Member Gene Hale, however, stated that the road was narrow enough that it should be one-way at all times. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the motion to make the street a one-way street at all times.

In other issues not on the agenda for the nights meeting, Council Member Gene Hale announced he and Jackie Sykes have undertaken an informal investigation regarding the pricing and available options for the installation of caution lights along Stonewall Street, with traffic routed in a one-way pattern at both the middle school and elementary school.

Their investigation revealed that four lights would cost in the neighborhood of $15,000.00. If the city takes the responsibility of wiring for the project, that price could be several thousand dollars less.

Options include free-hanging lights above the streets or a less expensive post-mounted model, or a combination of the two. Final decisions regarding placement of the lights along Stonewall Street and design as well as letting of bids will be considered in a later session. Officials speculate the placement of lights at where Cherry Street crosses and at the far end of the street, which may be accomplished using post-mounted style, with a free-hanging light placed between the distance of the peripheral lights as a reminder to drivers.

In a second matter, Council Member Hale announced the pending expiration on February 14 of the lease on the 2000 Chevy Blazer driven by Police Lt. Tim Nanney. He asked that the city purchase the vehicle for the sum of $15,875 using drug fund monies to cover the purchase as the vehicle is used primarily in drug enforcement, according to Council Member Hale. The Council voted unanimously to purchase the vehicle.

Bills approved for payment included: Gals Inc. - $943.01; Office Outfitters - $604.76; Office Concepts - $613.05; Petroleum Traders - $5,252.35; Dunn, Cresswell, Smith, Horne and Downing Auditors - $9,037.50; McKenzie Auto Parts - $1,100.88; B & E Electronics - $571.00; Liberty Mutual Insurance Group - $12,430.00; Central Refrigeration - $2,550.00; and Barker Brothers Waste - $16,395.96 for a total of $49,498.51.
       

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