Five people face charges in connection with the death of a Cleveland man last week.
The body of Tyler Andrew Worth was discovered last week. He had been shot to death, wrapped in a tarp and stuffed in the trunk of a car. The body was found in a ravine at Copper Hill.
Authorities said Richard Leroy Jerger informed them that he saw the victim being killed. Jerger said on Sunday, Oct. 11, he was with the victim, Jody Hughes, Ashley Rutledge Hughes and Gus Hawkins Jr. He said they were in an SUV belonging to Jody Hughes.
Jerger said Jody Hughes was armed with a handgun, and that he got a second handgun after stopping as an Econo Lodge and going into a room.
He said the group went south on Spring Place Road, then turned on to Hughes Lake Road before reaching a dirt road in a wooded area. He said the vehicle stopped and Jody Hughes made him, Hawkins and Worth get out. He said Jody Hughes then patted them down.
He said when Worth tried to run away that Jody Hughes shot him in the back three times.
Jerger said Hughes then made him and Hawkins place Worth in the tarp and drag it into the wooded area. The remaining four then left the scene.
He said they went to Calfee's Storage Units on Waterlevel Highway, where they got shovels and met another man, Jeffrey Todd Crumley, who was driving a red pickup truck.
They then went to Lead Mine Valley Road, where Hughes made Jerger and Hawkins dig a hole. Jerger said Hughes later helped.
They then went to Crumley's residence and got another vehicle before going back and retrieving the body of Worth. However, the vehicle got stuck in mud and was left at the woods.
When Jerger led authorities to the murder scene, the truck was still there in the mud.
Officers checking out the SUV said it had a strong odor of bleach.
Detectives said Jeff Crumley told them that Jody Hughes admitted killing Worth. Cumley admitted seeing the body and helping to dig the hole.
Hughes was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Hughes is in the Bradley County Jail.
Crumley was charged with accessory after the fact of first-degree murder, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
Ashley Rutledge Hughes, 20, has been charged with facilitation of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and tampering with evidence.
Jerger, 35 was charged with accessory to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and tampering with evidence.
Crumley, 37, faces charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and tampering with evidence.
Gus Roy Hawkins, 31, faces charges of accessory after the fact to first degree murder, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and tampering with evidence. He is still at large.