In the quiet town of Louisville, Tennessee, the life of 26-year-old John Willis was brought to a tragic and violent end on February 16, 2021. On that Tuesday, police responded to a call at his residence on Tupelo Way and discovered his body. The circumstances of his death were immediately considered suspicious, launching an intensive homicide investigation.
As detectives from the Alcoa Police Department, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other local law
enforcement agencies, delved into the case, a suspect began to emerge. More than a week after the discovery of Willis's body, on February 24, 2021, authorities arrested 38-year-old Steven Greene of Maryville. The Blount County Sheriff's Office SWAT team assisted in taking Greene into custody. He was subsequently charged with criminal homicide and held at the Blount County Justice Center. The investigation continued, pointing to the involvement of at least one other individual.
Further investigation led to the arrest of a second suspect, Heidi Litton. It was revealed that Litton had planned the homicide, and her indictment was aided by the cooperation of Steven Greene. In a turn of events, Greene entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. As part of his agreement, he committed to testifying against Litton. His cooperation was a significant factor in the judicial proceedings, and he received an effective sentence of 25 years in prison.
Following Greene's plea, Heidi Litton also reached a plea agreement. On the same day as Greene's sentencing hearing, she pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder. For her role in the death of John Willis, she was also sentenced to 25 years in prison. The resolution of these cases brought a close to the legal chapter of a grim event that had unsettled the community.
