In the quiet community of Centerville, Tennessee, Wallace Dewayne Rediker, a 70-year-old male, was found fatally shot outside his home on East Beaverdam Road on December 15, 2023. Known affectionately as Wayne, he was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. A man of deep faith, he served as a deacon at the Centerville Church of Christ, where he also taught Bible classes and assisted with security. His life of service extended to his country as a U.S.
Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and to his community as a former truck driver and, more recently, a cherished school bus driver. Many in the community also knew him for his generosity, particularly for sharing the prized tomatoes from his garden.
The investigation into Rediker's death, led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at the request of the 32nd Judicial District Attorney General, quickly identified his neighbor, David N. Katahn, as the individual responsible for the shooting. However, the case took a dark turn when Katahn was subsequently discovered deceased from a gunshot wound in his own driveway. The ensuing investigation into Katahn's death pointed to Wallace Rediker's son, John E. Rediker, as the person responsible.
Following the collection of evidence and witness statements, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents arrested John E. Rediker. He was taken into custody and charged with one count of Criminal Homicide in connection with the death of David N. Katahn. John Rediker was then booked into the Hickman County Jail and held without bond pending his first court appearance.
