In the small town of Centerville, Tennessee, the life of 53-year-old Lucy Lynn Fritscher Brewer was tragically cut short on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Known for her infectious and upbeat spirit, she was a beloved animal lover who found joy in spending time with her family and her pets. Her sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and grief through the community that knew her.
On that fateful evening, law enforcement responded to a shooting at a residence on Highway 100.
Inside, they discovered Lucy Brewer deceased from a gunshot wound. Her husband, Earl Brewer, was also found at the scene, critically injured from a gunshot. He was quickly transported to a Nashville hospital for treatment. The investigation into the shooting swiftly pointed to one individual: Gary Tidwell.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working alongside the Centerville Police Department and the Hickman County Sheriff's Office, identified Gary Tidwell as the person responsible for the shooting. Just prior to the incident, Tidwell had reportedly posted a disturbing message on Facebook, in which he detailed his intention to kill Lucy and then himself. His social media post also alluded to an alleged affair with Lucy, which she had reportedly confessed to her husband. The couple was said to be working through the issue.
Following an intensive search, authorities located Gary Tidwell in a wooded area on County Line Road in the early hours of the following morning and took him into custody. Tidwell, who had a prior conviction for second-degree murder, was charged with one count of criminal homicide for Lucy's death, one count of attempted criminal homicide for the shooting of her husband, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Hickman County Jail and held without bond.
