George Patterson, 69, of Anderson County, has received a 25-year sentence for the 2019 fatal shooting of his neighbor, David Roach, after what has been described as a "verbal fight." This sentencing comes following Patterson's conviction of second-degree murder in February 2025, with the shooting incident in question having occurred on a seemingly tranquil Rocky Top neighborhood street over three years prior, WBIR reports.
On the morning of November 23, 2019, Roach was shot four times outside of a home on Willow Lane and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Details from the investigation revealed that Roach’s fiancée, Felicia Adkins, who witnessed the incident, had feared for her life given the ongoing conflict with Patterson that spanned about a year, WATE conveyed from Adkins' statements. The intensity of the feud, and its ultimately lethal denouement, reflect a simmering discord that shattered the peace of their Rocky Top community.
The District Attorney General's Office has expressed gratitude for the comprehensive investigation which included efforts from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Rocky Top Police Department, and multiple other agencies. The collective endeavor to untangle the truth behind Roach's demise embodies the criminal justice system's unwavering pursuit of accountability, as noted by District Attorney General Dave Clark, "We are grateful for the extraordinary work done by Special Agent Maria Cutshaw, Assistant District Attorney Sarah W. Keith, Assistant District Attorney Meredith E. Slemp and Victim Witness Coordinator Katherine Sellers for bringing justice to this grieving family," WVLT reports.
