In the quiet town of Tusculum, Tennessee, the life of 64-year-old David Eugene Lineberry, a male, was brought to an abrupt and violent end. On the morning of Thursday, October 30, 2014, a 911 call reported a shooting at a residence on Cumberland Drive. When officers from the Greene County Sheriff's Department and the Tusculum Police Department arrived at the home, they discovered Mr. Lineberry's body.
It was soon determined that he had been fatally shot, prompting a homicide investigation.
The 3rd District Attorney General requested the assistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to lead the inquiry into the suspicious death. Investigators began to piece together the events that led to the shooting. As they delved into Mr. Lineberry's life, their focus turned toward an acquaintance. The joint investigation, involving TBI Special Agents and detectives from the Greene County Sheriff's Department, quickly developed information pointing to a single individual as the person responsible for the crime.
Within days, the investigation culminated in an arrest. On Saturday, November 1, 2014, Greene County deputies took Brenda Sue Smith, a 51-year-old woman from Mosheim, into custody. Smith, who was known to the victim, was charged with one count of First Degree Murder in connection with Mr. Lineberry's death. She was subsequently booked into the Greene County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. While an arrest was made, authorities continued their active and joint investigation to uncover the specific circumstances and motive behind the murder. Mr. Lineberry's body was sent to Johnson City for an autopsy to aid in the ongoing investigation.
