In the quiet town of Blountville, Tennessee, a tragic and violent series of events unfolded in January 2023, leaving two people dead and a community in shock. One of the victims was Barry Countiss, a 56-year-old man who was found deceased in his home on Stevenson Hill Road. His death was the result of a gunshot wound.
The investigation into Countiss's death quickly connected it to another homicide in the same neighborhood. Katie Arnold, 36, was also found shot and killed.
Investigators identified Donald Britt as a suspect in both murders. The motive for Arnold's killing was believed to be Britt's fear that she would expose his involvement in a recent robbery. Britt had been in a relationship with Arnold.
Following the murder of Arnold, authorities believe Britt went to Barry Countiss's nearby residence, where he shot and killed him before stealing his SUV. This stolen vehicle was later involved in a crash in Johnson City, which led to Britt's capture.
Donald Britt was taken into custody and accused of both homicides. In the subsequent legal proceedings, Britt's case was set to be presented to a grand jury. He faced charges for the murders of both Katie Arnold and Barry Countiss, bringing a grim and violent chapter in Blountville to a close as the judicial process began.
