In the fall of 2014, the life of Audrey McCroskey, a 46-year-old White woman from Kodak, Tennessee, came to a tragic and violent end. The events that led to her death began on the night of November 6, 2014, when her estranged boyfriend, Browning Burgess, 60, of Newport, went to her residence on Bent Road. An argument broke out between the former couple, which culminated in Burgess shooting McCroskey in the face before taking his own life.
When Sevier County deputies arrived at the scene,
they found Burgess deceased. McCroskey, however, was still alive and was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. She remained in intensive care for nearly two weeks, fighting for her life. Tragically, Audrey McCroskey succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Monday, November 17, 2014.
The investigation into the incident revealed it to be a murder-suicide stemming from a domestic dispute. There were no other suspects, and with Burgess deceased, no arrests were made in connection with McCroskey's death. The community was left to mourn the loss of a woman described as a beloved mother and friend, a victim of domestic violence whose life was cut short.
