| Toxicology report awaited in death of fireman's wife |
| Friday, August 28, 2009 |
|
An investigation into the death of the wife of a Lebanon firefighter continues as authorities searched the home Tuesday where the couple resided in Murfreesboro. By BEN DUDLEY An investigation into the death of the wife of a Lebanon firefighter continues as authorities searched the home Tuesday where the couple resided in Murfreesboro. The body of Carla Hicks, 38, was discovered Friday in a wooded area off Highway 452, near Highway 231 and not far from the SuperSpeedway. She was the wife of Lebanon Firefighter Michael Hicks, 43, who was arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse. He posted bond and was released after his arrest on Monday. Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation seized several items from the Hicks’s home during an execution of a search warrant. According to reports, TBI agents found yellow nylon rope and a plastic drop cloth in the garage. Wilson County Sheriff’s Department officials said when they found Hicks’ wife Carla’s body early Friday morning that it was wrapped in plastic and yellow rope. TBI investigators also seized ripped-up medical records found in a garbage can outside the house, as well as hospital discharge instructions, a camera, cell phones and computers from inside. A court affidavit said that a friend of Mr. Hicks’s came forward Saturday and told investigators that Hicks had asked for help changing the tires on his Jeep after seeing on the news that investigators took tire impressions from the field where Mrs. Hicks’s body was found. TBI officials have classified this investigation as a death because it is still unclear how Carla Hicks died. They are waiting on Mrs. Hicks’s toxicology reports to come back. Also muddying the waters and keeping investigators from calling her death a homicide are reports that Mrs. Hicks had attempted suicide in the recent past. According to a Murfreesboro police report from March of this year, Mr. Hicks called 911 after his wife allegedly took a bottle of aspirin and between 20 or 30 Xanax pills. She admitted to doing this to herself, the report said. Hicks is to appear before General Sessions Judge Robert Hamilton on Sept. 10. Staff Writer Ben Dudley may be contacted at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. |
By BEN DUDLEY