Josh Peterson

From left: Vernice Farrar, Devan Gailey, Brent Ross. Photos provided by Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department.

We have an update to a story we first brought to you last week. Terry Barber, 68, was found dead inside his Rutherford County home Wednesday by a friend, according to investigators. 

On Sunday, June 30, three people were arrested in connection with his death and all three are facing charges of first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and especially aggravated robbery. 

Arrested by Rutherford County sheriffs’ deputies were Devan Jacob Gailey, 20, Brent Donavan Ross, 21 and Vernice Darlene Farrar, 39. All are Murfreesboro residents, according to the Daily News Journal. 

According to affidavits, the three suspects allegedly drove to Barber’s home on either Monday, June 24 or Tuesday, June 25, with the intention of robbing him. The court filings state that barber was allegedly tied up and strangled, leaving him unconscious. Barber died from his injuries. 

Additional suspects may be charged, according to sheriff’s officials. 

Barber sold SEC memorabilia and was very involved in area sports, according to Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department officials. He umpired many softball games over the years on the high school level including many at Coffee County High School. 

A Franklin County man is dead after a case of domestic violence spun out of control Sunday night, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. 

According to Sgt. Chris Guess, 56-year old Tony Dale Gilliam was shot in the head, allegedly by his wife, 55-year old Patricia Renee Gilliam.

Deputies responded at 9 p.m. Sunday night. Deputies performed CPR on Tony Gilliam, he was transported to Southern Regional Health System hospital where he was pronounced dead. Patricia Gilliam provided a statement and no charges have been filed at this time, according to the Herald Chronicle. 

A Grundy County School Board member is in trouble after being arrested for aggravated domestic violence.

According to the Grundy County Herald, Mike Yates was arrested on Sunday.

Mike Yates

According to the first deputy on the scene, the officer spoke with the alleged victim, who stated that she was arguing with her husband when he hit her and kicked her in the face. According to the deputy, the victim had swelling of her left eye. She stated that she wanted to press charges.

Mike Yates claims he and his wife were arguing when she struck him on top of the head, at which point he was defending himself.

Yates was arrested in 2015 for assault. He was a school board member at that time, he resigned but successfully ran again for school board in 2018.

Thunder Radio does not identify potential victims of domestic violence.

Gas prices are rising across the country ahead of Independence Day. After last week, a gallon of regular unleaded is, on average, a nickel more expensive with 25 states seeing an increase since last Monday, according to AAA. 

As of Monday, the national average is $2.71 per gallon. While that is a nickel more than last week, it’s 11 cents less than last month at this time and 14 cents cheaper than the same time in 2018. 

Despite the slight increases, Tennessee remains in the top 10 for lowest gas prices in the nation. Tennessee is sixth with an average price of $2.41. The cheapest gas is currently in Mississippi, at $2.32 per gallon. 

In Coffee County, as of midday Monday the lowest price was $2.43