In the quiet town of Etowah, Tennessee, the life of 68-year-old Roger Dillard came to a tragic and unexpected end in the final days of 2023. On the evening of Thursday, December 28th, McMinn County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a residence on County Road 457. Inside, they discovered Roger Dillard, a male resident of the home, deceased from a single gunshot wound.
Initially, the circumstances surrounding the death were unclear, and investigators began to piece together the
events that had transpired. Residing in the same home was Roger Dillard's 46-year-old son, Jason Dillard. As the investigation progressed over the next few days, what may have initially been considered a possible suicide began to be viewed as a homicide. By Sunday, December 31, 2023, the focus of the investigation had squarely fallen on Jason Dillard.
Investigators with the McMinn County Sheriff's Office determined that an argument had taken place between Roger and Jason Dillard prior to the fatal shooting. This altercation is believed to have escalated, culminating in the death of the elder Dillard. Based on the evidence gathered during their investigation, authorities arrested Jason Dillard and charged him in connection with his father's death.
Following his arrest, Jason Dillard was booked into the McMinn County Justice Center. He was initially held without bond, awaiting his first court appearance to face the charges related to the death of his father, Roger Dillard. The case then moved to the McMinn County General Sessions Court for arraignment.
