What started as a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Cookeville turned into a major drug bust with a 5-year-old child caught in the middle, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say that on July 6 they pulled over a Chevrolet Traverse heading east, found drugs and paraphernalia, and ultimately took four adults into custody while arranging for a family member to pick up the child.
Traffic Stop Leads to K9 Alert and Drug Discovery
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported that a deputy stopped the white Chevrolet Traverse on I-40 East after observing two traffic violations, and that everyone inside was asked to step out because there were multiple people and improper seating arrangements, according to WSMV. During a free-air sniff around the SUV, K9 Deputy Reed and K9 Tuco alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics. Deputies say they found a broken glass pipe and other paraphernalia on two of the occupants before searching the vehicle.
Inside the Traverse, investigators reported seizing about 40.8 grams of methamphetamine, roughly 8.4 grams of fentanyl, and around 3.5 grams of an unidentified powder. The sheriff’s office characterized the haul as a significant removal of illegal narcotics from local roads.
Four Adults Booked, With Felony Narcotics Charges
Deputies identified the driver as Kirsten Murdock and said she was the child’s mother. They reported that the 5-year-old was not properly secured in a car seat. Murdock was charged with manufacture, delivery, and sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine, child abuse, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is being held on a $153,000 bond.
Passenger Corey Howard was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and is being held on a $2,300 bond, according to the sheriff’s office. Christopher Walker also faces a drug paraphernalia charge, along with two existing violation-of-probation warrants. Officials said Walker is on a probation hold despite a $2,300 bond being set.
Deputies say the fourth adult, Tazha Sidwell, faces charges of manufacture and delivery of fentanyl, tampering with evidence, and introduction of contraband into a jail facility. According to investigators, Sidwell was found concealing fentanyl in a body cavity during jail intake.
All four have court dates set for August. A family member arrived at the scene to take custody of the child. “Drug trafficking doesn’t stop at county lines, and neither does our commitment to stopping it,” Sheriff Eddie Farris told WSMV.
Context: Why This Bust Hits Home
Law enforcement officials regularly stress that even relatively small amounts of fentanyl can be deadly, which is why they describe seizures like this as important wins for public safety. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment notes that synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, along with methamphetamine, remain major drivers of the nation’s drug threat.
The Putnam County stop is also part of a bigger picture. PCSO stated that two of the adults in the Traverse are linked to a three-month narcotics investigation involving the Overton County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, underscoring how a simple traffic violation can intersect with broader, multi-county drug probes.
What Happens Next
The four adults remain in custody on the listed charges and holds as their August court dates approach, and prosecutors with the 13th Judicial District are expected to file formal documents ahead of those hearings. Deputies say they will keep working with the TBI and Overton County investigators as the case moves forward in court.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information related to the broader investigation to contact their office.
