A McMinn County jury on Friday found Kyle Hickox guilty of murdering Linda Buchanan and of setting fire to St. Mark AME Zion Church in Athens. The verdict closes a case that began with a mid-August 2024 blaze that gutted the small, historic church and left Buchanan dead inside. Hickox was arrested later that month and faced second-degree murder and arson charges after investigators linked him to the scene.
Official Announcement
The City of Athens Police Department announced the jury's decision on its Facebook page, writing, "FOUND GUILTY: Kyle Hickox has been found guilty of the murder of Linda Buchanan and the arson of St. Mark AME Zion Church," according to the City of Athens Police Department. The post included the line "justice has been delivered," echoing the verdict returned by the McMinn County jury.
Investigation and Earlier Reporting
Authorities recovered the body of 69-year-old Linda Buchanan inside the church, and an autopsy found she died before the fire. That finding shifted the case from a possible accidental blaze to a homicide investigation, as reported by WBBJ. That coverage and statements from investigators indicate that surveillance and forensic leads pointed to Hickox, who was arrested in August 2024 and held on a $600,000 bond.
Surveillance and Forensic Links
National reporting noted that surveillance cameras captured a man later identified as Hickox on adjacent properties before and after the blaze, and that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's crime lab matched blood on a shoe to Buchanan, according to Fox News. Local authorities cited those pieces of evidence as central to the case presented at trial.
Court and Next Steps
The city announcement did not clarify whether a sentencing date has been scheduled, and the Facebook post did not list a court date or potential penalty. Formal sentencing, along with any additional filings or appeals, will be recorded in McMinn County court documents after the verdict is fully entered.
Local Aftermath
The fire and Buchanan's death stunned the small Athens community when they occurred, and the guilty verdict brings closure to a long-running local investigation even as residents continue to process the loss. Officials have previously urged anyone with additional information to contact the Athens Police Department or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, according to earlier reporting on the case.
