In a quiet neighborhood in Manchester, Tennessee, the life of 46-year-old Lisa McCoy came to a horrific end on a September weekend in 2018. On the evening of Saturday, September 8th, she and her ex-husband, James Richard McCoy, Jr., attended a concert where his behavior was described as unusually possessive. Friends of Lisa grew concerned for her safety, a fear she reportedly shared with them, even stating that she believed he was going to kill her.
Despite the palpable tension, she returned with him to her home on Duck River Road.
Sometime that night or early the next morning, while their son was in the house, James shot Lisa at least twelve times in the head and neck. In the aftermath, he made a concerted effort to destroy the evidence of his crime. Authorities who arrived at the scene early Sunday morning, September 9th, discovered a gruesome scene. James had attempted to thoroughly scrub the area, gathered the spent shell casings, and had dismembered Lisa’s body, cutting off her legs below the knees. He then placed her remains in the trunk of her car, seemingly preparing to dispose of the body.
Manchester Police took 54-year-old James Richard McCoy, Jr. into custody at the home around 4 a.m. on September 9th. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, domestic violence, and abuse of a corpse. The investigation revealed a troubled history between the couple, who had been married and divorced twice over their 13-year relationship, which was marked by physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. It was reported that James had previously threatened to kill Lisa and had confronted and physically assaulted men she dated after their second divorce.
James McCoy remained in custody without bond from the time of his arrest. On February 6, 2023, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder, along with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. For his crimes, he was sentenced to serve 30 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
