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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004
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MOTHER AND SON MURDERED
Bodies Found in River
UPDATE: Killer
Confesses
Huntingdon Man
Arrested in Mother, Son Homicides |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Gadlen is escorted into
the Courthouse by a deputy and Sheriff Bendell
Bartholomew.
Charles Gadlen faces
arraignment in the Carroll County General Sessions
Court Monday. Charles Gadlen, Jr. of
Huntingdon, who was employed as a janitor at
Huntingdon Middle School, was arraigned on two counts
of first degree murder Wednesday morning in Carroll
County General Sessions Court in Huntingdon. Gadlen
confessed to the murders of Laura Denise Tegethoff and
her one-year-old son, Jayden Tegethoff, whose bodies
were found Sunday in King’s Levee Bottom, on the South
Fork of the Obion River, located between McKenzie and
Trezevant.
A handcuffed and shackled Gadlen entered the Carroll
County Courthouse for the 10 a.m. proceeding
surrounded by Carroll County Sheriff Bendell
Bartholomew and Deputy Jackie Wallace. He is being
held without bond.
Bartholomew said the case meets all the qualifications
for a death penalty case. He noted it will be left up
to Carroll County District Attorney Robert “Gus”
Radford to determine if the death penalty is sought.
The sheriff said Tegethoff and her son were killed
shortly after they were last seen at 1 p.m. Wednesday,
September 29.
TBI agents questioned Gadlen Tuesday evening at
Huntingdon Police Department, where he ultimately
confessed to the double homicide. Gadlen and Tegethoff
had an argument at King’s Levee bottom, where they had
gone in his vehicle, and the murders occurred at that
location, the sheriff said.
The suspect had been asked to come to the Police
Department for questioning and complied at
approximately 8:00 p.m., the sheriff said.
Bartholomew stated officials are still awaiting final
autopsy reports to determine Ms. Tegethoff’s cause of
death. Authorities have determined, however, that
one-year-old Jayden was drowned.
Gadlen was Tegethoff’s boyfriend at one time.
Officials are awaiting DNA results before releasing if
Gadlen was the father of the toddler.
A probable cause hearing will be held November 1 in
General Sessions Court to determine if enough evidence
exists for Gadlen to be bound over to the grand jury.
Jayden would have celebrated his first birthday
Sunday, October 3.
Denise lived on McCall Street in Huntingdon in an
apartment that was taped off like a crime scene.
Denise and Jayden are the daughter and grandson of
Barbara Tegethoff Ellis of Huntingdon and the late
Floyd Tegethoff.
The Sheriff’s Department and Huntingdon Police
Department had been searching for leads since the
disappearance of Ms. Tegethoff and her son Wednesday,
September 29.
A break in the case came at approximately 11 a.m.
Sunday when two fishermen found a diaper bag with
Ford’s identification in it on land near the water at
Kings Levee bottom, which is part of the South Fork
Obion River, and notified relatives. A search of the
area was begun a short time later. Assisting in the
search was the Carroll County Rescue Squad with the
assistance of the squad’s cadaver dog “Laketa.”
Carroll County Medical Examiner Designate Steve
Cantrell, rescue squad members Herb Murphy, Kathy
Clark and “Laketa” were searching by boat when Ms.
Tegethoff’s body was sited and recovered at 7:45 p.m.
Sunday.
The child’s body was recovered a short time later at
8:30 p.m., a short distance away from the mother’s
body, by other searchers.
Both bodies were sent to the chief medical examiner’s
office in Nashville to determine cause of death, said
Cantrell.
Denise was a 1997 graduate of Clarksburg High School.
Denise and Jayden were the niece and great nephew of
Alva Tegethoff of McKenzie and the late Alton
Tegethoff.
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Carroll, Weakley Jobless Rates
Decline; Henry Unchanged |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Carroll County unemployment rate decreased from 10
percent in July to 9.1 percent in August and also
decreased from what was once the highest jobless rate
in the state to tenth place during the August
reporting period.
"Government employment increased (in Carroll County)
due to end of summer vacation for school personnel,"
said Judith Bradberry, Labor Market Analyst for
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce
Development.
From an available work force of 12,340, a total of
11,220 persons were employed, leaving 1,120
unemployed.
Carroll's jobless rate is down 1.4 percent when
compared to the same time last year.
Henry County's jobless rate remained unchanged at 7.7
percent from July to August, according a state report.
"Government employment did increase due to the school
year beginning, but not enough to affect the
unemployment rate there significantly," said Mrs.
Bradberry.
From a labor force of 14,590 in Henry County, a total
of 13,460 were employed, leaving 1,130 unemployed.
Henry is down .9 percent when compared to August,
2003.
Weakley County's jobless rate declined from 8.5
percent in July to 7.1 percent in August. From an
available work force of 16,380, 15,210 were working
and 1,170 were unemployed in that county.
"Once again most of the employment gains were in
government due to the new school year," said Mrs.
Bradberry. "There were also so increases in
manufacturing due to a return to work from temporary
vacation shutdown.
Weakley is down one percent when compared to the same
reporting period last year.
Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner James
Neeley said Tennessee's seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for August was 4.9 percent, down 1.1
percentage points from August 2003 when the rate
registered 6.0 percent. The rate is up slightly from
last month's rate of 4.5 percent. Tennessee remains
below the U.S. rate for August, which was 5.4 percent.
"This month we are seeing decreases in private
educational services and
arts/entertainment/recreation, which is typical this
time of year as summer ends and tourism slows," said
Neeley. "The year-to-year drop in the rate is due to
employment increases in
trade/transportation/utilities, leisure/hospitality,
and health care."
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Property Insurance Up $7,000 in Huntingdon |
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The town of Huntingdon's property insurance through
the Tennessee Municipal League increased a little over
$7,000 from last year - from $17,914 to $24,977 - due
to a June 23 appraisal that valued assets at $14
million, two million over last year's assessment.
Mayor Dale Kelley stated the increase is due to new
property acquisitions as well as $3,000 in builder's
risk insurance during the construction of the Dixie
Carter Performing Arts Center.
Concerning the center, Kelley said the steel
construction would be up October 11 after which, he
said, "we'll see the building start taking shape in a
hurry."
He further stated work on the downtown renovation
project would commence soon: "We're excited about
getting started," he said.
In other matters, the sole bidder for the purchase of
a 2005 model police cruiser was Tri-County Motor
Company of McKenzie. At $22,617.10, Kelley said the
price was less than the cruiser last purchased in
2003, which cost $23,995. Steve Marsh Ford in Milan
declined to bid.
Kelley stated he had heard positive reviews about the
previous Saturday's Huntingdon Heritage Festival,
which was moved from its regular court square location
to Sesquicentennial Park.
"It was bigger and better than ever," he said, "and
the shade seemed to work extremely well."
He lauded the participation of the Huntingdon High
School chorus, band and cheerleaders who lent emphasis
to the festival's "Football Fever" theme. He further
boasted of the quality entertainment provided by
participants in the talent show and the worthiness of
Citizen of the Year Paul Ward and Pioneer Family, the
Butlers.
"There was good participation by everybody," he said.
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Final Reading on Wheel Tax is Monday, October 11 |
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Carroll County commissioners will again consider a
hike in the wheel tax making it $30 for all motorized
vehicles in the county. The resolution will be
addressed during the October 11 meeting at 7:00 p.m.
at the Carroll County Courthouse. In September,
commissioners voted 17 to 3 to increase the wheel tax
to provide funding for county road maintenance. State
law requires commissioners to approve the measure by a
minimum two-thirds majority in two consecutive
meetings. During last month's meeting, the
resolution met little opposition as budget framers had
already warned of an impending property tax hike in
the next budget cycle. A wheel tax will eliminate the
need for the property tax hike for several years, said
County Mayor Kenny McBride, who estimates that an
increase of 9 cents to the current $1.06 per $100
assessed rate would be needed if the wheel tax were
defeated.
Voting against the wheel tax hike in September were
Roger Hollowell, Joey Darnall, and Mike Creasy. Voting
for the hike were Johnny Blount, Harold Baker, Gaylon
Sydnor, Harold Vinson, Bill Kirk, Ben Surber, Virgil
Coleman, Wayne Kirk, Bobby Argo, Ronnie Murphy, Steve
Parker, Larry Spencer, Richard Goodwin, Jimmy Kee,
Frank Burns, Marsha Barger, and Jerry White. Billy J.
Smith was absent.
In other business, the commission will declare a
vacancy in the District 5 seat. Commissioner Frank
Burns vacated the seat on September 30 after he
returned to Kentucky to reside. Eligible voters in
District 5 can seek the position by lobbying the
remaining 20 commissioners, who will fill the vacancy
until the August 2006 elections.
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Fire Destroys Home
- McKenzie Teen Wins Chess Championship
- Bethel Students Hold Mock Presidential Election
- Jackson Army Guard Unit Deploying to Southwest
Asia
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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