Charley C. Chronister, 46, was arrested Wednesday in Sumner County after he told police he had killed his mother's cousin, according to authorities. He was booked into the Sumner County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse and is being held without bond. Officials have not released the victim's name while the investigation continues.
Police were called to Chronister's home after he phoned in, and officers found a body at the scene. Detectives say Chronister admitted that an argument with the woman turned violent and that he beat her to death with a hammer. Investigators also allege he then stripped the body and tried to clean up blood, and that he engaged in sexual intercourse with the corpse, according to NewsChannel 5.
What the charges mean under Tennessee law
In Tennessee, first-degree murder is defined broadly and can carry the death penalty, life without parole, or life imprisonment, according to FindLaw. The abuse-of-a-corpse statute, which specifically covers disinterring a body, unlawfully disposing of remains, and engaging in sexual contact with a corpse, is a Class E felony punishable by one to six years in prison, per TNDocket.
Investigation and next steps
The case remains under investigation, and authorities say they are not releasing additional details while detectives follow leads. Chronister was booked into the Sumner County Jail on Wednesday and is being held without bond. The district attorney's office will determine whether to present the case to a grand jury, according to NewsChannel 5.
