In the late summer evening of Thursday, August 29, 2024, the community of Smithville, Tennessee, was shaken by a violent act that ended the life of 39-year-old Earl Craig Asberry, Jr. Deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to a residence on Streamer Drive following a report of a possible shooting at approximately 6:54 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of Mr. Asberry in the yard of the home.
He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The investigation into the death of the man, known to some as 'Bubba,' quickly focused on the homeowner, 66-year-old William McKenzie. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was brought in to assist the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department in the homicide investigation. Authorities reported that during the course of their investigation, McKenzie confessed to intentionally shooting Asberry multiple times.
Further investigation revealed that McKenzie had allegedly attempted to conceal Asberry's body and had intentions of removing it from the property. Following these developments, William McKenzie was taken into custody and charged with one count of second-degree murder. He was subsequently booked into the DeKalb County Jail with his bond set at $500,000. McKenzie was scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on September 12, 2024.
