The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday arrested three individuals for a double murder and arson that happened last summer in Roan Mountain. The three men were indicted by the Carter County Grand Jury last week on the charges.
Jonathan Shell, 22, and Jeffrey Whitehead, 48, both of Roan Mountain, were each indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated arson and two counts of tampering with evidence-abuse of a corpse. Also, 20-year-old Tyler Daniel Shell, of Trade, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
On June 26, 2012, 61-year-old Joyce Brock and 54-year-old Russell Glenn Shell were found dead in a burning garage adjacent to their residence on Hemlock Lane. An autopsy revealed both victims had suffered gunshot wounds to the head before being set on fire. The couple had been living in the garage because several weeks earlier their home was burned and destroyed. The cause of that fire was also arson. Jonathan Shell is Russell Glenn Shell’s son and Tyler Shell is of no relation to the victims or other subjects. Whitehead is married to Russell Glenn Shell’s ex-wife.
The 1st Judicial District Attorney General requested the TBI open an investigation into the double murder. TBI investigated the case with the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bomb and Arson.
The Shells and Whitehead were booked into the Carter County Jail without bond.