In the quiet town of Erwin, Tennessee, the life of a 93-year-old woman, Evelyn Whitson Bailey, came to a tragic and unexpected end. On Saturday, September 22, 2018, what began as an ordinary day concluded with a devastating act of violence that also claimed the life of her son-in-law.
Evelyn, who was battling Alzheimer's disease, was fatally shot by her son-in-law, 63-year-old Grady D. Hughes. The incident unfolded at a residence on Morris Road in Unicoi County.
Authorities investigating the scene determined that Hughes shot his mother-in-law before turning the weapon on himself in a murder-suicide. The bodies of both Bailey and Hughes were discovered in the driveway of the home.
In the days that followed, the family was left to grapple with the profound loss of two members under such harrowing circumstances. The local community was shaken by the news of the tragedy that had befallen the family. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist the Unicoi County Sheriff's Office in the investigation into the deaths.
Separate funeral services were held to honor the lives of both Evelyn Bailey and Grady Hughes. Despite the violent nature of their deaths, their obituaries focused on their lives and the families they left behind, without mentioning the tragic events that transpired. Evelyn was remembered for her love of flowers and sewing. Grady was recalled as a man who enjoyed fishing, NASCAR, and spending time with his family. The case was closed following the determination of a murder-suicide, with Grady Hughes as the sole suspect in Evelyn Bailey's death. As Hughes was deceased, there were no arrests or subsequent legal proceedings.
