Services set for victims of triple homicide

Published February 5, 2013
By Brad Hicks - Erwin Bureau Chief

ERWIN — Services have been set for the three victims of an apparent triple homicide suicide that occurred early Saturday at the Town Acres apartments.

Funeral services for Bridget Hughes and her two children, Whitney and Austin Hughes, will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Evergreen Free Will Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors from 5-7 p.m. at the church. Interment for the three will take place at 11 a.m. Friday in the Mausoleum Chapel of Evergreen Cemetery.

On Monday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released the names of the family of four involved in the tragic incident.

According to a news release issued Saturday by Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson, officers from the Erwin Police Department were dispatched to 750 Carolina Ave., Apt. 124B, at a little past 2 a.m. Saturday on the report of a wounded person calling 911.

The release states officers made entry into the residence, where the bodies of two adults, subsequently identified as Bridget Hughes, 39, and Herbert Clyde Hughes Jr., 47, and two children, later identified as Austin Hughes, 11, and Whitney Hughes, 12, were discovered. According to officials, it appeared Herbert Clyde Hughes shot and killed his wife and their two children before committing suicide.

“This appears to be a domestic-related incident where the aggressor inflicted fatal gunshot wounds to his wife and two children the took his own life,” the Erwin Police release stated.

A candlelight vigil for the Hughes family attended by neighbors and friends was held Monday evening in front of their apartment.

Tilson said Tuesday that while the “why” surrounding the shootings may never be determined, officials with his department and the TBI are continuing their investigation to attempt to piece together how the incident transpired.

He said forensic evidence has been submitted to the TBI crime lab, but he said there is no timetable on when the lab’s review of the evidence may be complete.

“We don’t expect the results to be fast,” he said. “We just want the healing process to begin for the families and the community.”

Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley said Tuesday that he has received word that he cannot release the tape of the 911 call made to Unicoi County 911 Saturday morning.

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mcinturffm writes:

February 5, 2013
11:10 PM

Such a sad senseless tragedy. The 911 tape should never be released. It can only cause more pain for this grieving family. I think that most of the community is still in shock over what happened. Please remember the victims, their families and the ones that were impacted in the community. RIP Bridgette, Whitney and Austin.

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