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First degree murder case
goes to grand jury
Published Sunday, August 30, 2009
By Jeff York
For the Daily Corinthian
SELMER, Tenn. ‹ A Selmer woman charged with first degree murder of her neighbor had her case bound over to the grand jury following her preliminary hearing.
The gruesome details during the hearing included a report from the TBI that the 82-year-old victim had been stabbed at least 50 times.
Sharrie Denise Savage, 51, of 323 Kirkpatrick Dr. in Selmer, has been charged with felony first degree murder in the death of Jo Etta McClain. She was also charged with aggravated burglary and fabricating/tampering with evidence.
McNairy County General Sessions Judge Van McMahan bound the case over to the grand jury after hearing the evidence presented by the state on Thursday.
McMahan ruled the state had met their burden of proof that probable cause had been presented during the preliminary hearing by Assistant District Attorney Bob Gray.
Savage's attorney, Ricky Griggs, had asked McMahan to drop the charge down to second degree murder during the hearing, but the judge declined the request.
McMahan had established a $1 million bond for Savage during her arraignment hearing held on May 28.
Savage has been held in the McNairy County Justice Center since she was arrested by the Selmer Police Department on May 27. Judge McMahan informed her of the charges, advised her of her rights and established bond during the arraignment on May 28.
McClain's body was discovered by emergency personnel from the McNairy Regional Health Services around 2:15 p.m. on May 23. McClain's Life Alert device apparently had helped summon help to her residence on Kirkpatrick Dr. in Selmer.
It is believed she died between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
The evidence presented in the preliminary hearing included testimony from Selmer Police Department Investigator Tony Miller that McClain was found covered in blood in her recliner. Miller said McClain was dead when law enforcement got to her house.
Miller said officers had told him Savage appeared to have blood on her neck and elbows when they had talked to her prior to his arrival on the scene at McClain's home.
TBI Special Agent Terry Dicus testified he found McClain's blood on Savage's bedroom light switch and a bedspread. He said there appeared to be blood found in the bathroom. Dicus testified the TBI confirmed McClain had been stabbed at least 50 times.
The McNairy County Grand Jury will meet in October.
