A gruesome scene unfolded in Cocke County where a woman was discovered slain, leading to her daughter and another woman being charged with first-degree murder. Cocke County Sheriff's Office reported that at 7:59 p.m. on April 2, Polly Fox, 36, called 911 claiming to have stumbled upon her mother dead at their Battle Road residence in Newport.
The victim, identified as Ola Schumacher, was found by deputies with a "deep cut to her throat," according to WATE. Sheriff C.J. Ball described the incident as an "extreme tragedy," affirming that the community is shaken. Fox, along with Rayanna Keene, 35, stands accused in the homicide case, as both were reportedly taken into custody at the Cocke County Detention Center.
Charges against the pair include both first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, the Newport Plain Talk reported. This occurrence has introduced a stark and unsettling chill upon the communities' typically tranquil comings and goings, prompting an ongoing investigative response from local authorities as details continue to emerge.
In response to the incident, "This is an extreme tragedy that this community has experienced," Sheriff C.J. Ball told WVLT. "The detectives will continue to investigate and process this case." As the investigation continues, the community awaits answers while grappling with the harrowing reality that such a devastating act could unfold so close to home.
