In the late summer of 2024, the life of Harold “BJ” Lee Grisham III was tragically cut short. On September 4th, the 37-year-old white male was fatally shot at the home he shared with his girlfriend near Old Leipers Creek Road in Columbia, Tennessee. The tranquility of the rural setting was shattered by this act of violence, prompting an immediate and intensive investigation by law enforcement.
Authorities quickly identified 46-year-old Michael Van Dobbs as the primary suspect in
Grisham's death. Dobbs was no stranger to the criminal justice system in Maury County, having accumulated a lengthy record of 44 charges over a span of 21 years. His past offenses included theft, burglary, drug-related crimes, child endangerment, and assault. In the wake of the shooting, a multi-agency manhunt for Dobbs was launched, with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation adding him to their Most Wanted list and offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. The public was warned that Dobbs was considered armed and dangerous. While the exact motive for the shooting remained under investigation, speculation arose among friends and acquaintances of Grisham that it may have been the result of a love triangle.
The search for Michael Van Dobbs concluded on September 13, 2024. An observant citizen spotted him near the Garrison Creek Trail Head on the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail in neighboring Williamson County and promptly alerted the authorities. Deputies were able to apprehend Dobbs without incident. Following his capture, he was booked into the Williamson County Jail before being transferred to Maury County to face a charge of criminal homicide in connection with the death of Harold Grisham.
