Rhea County, Tennessee

From the Dayton Herald-News of February 12, 2006

Grand Jury ‘no-bills’ man in shooting of his son-in-law

The Rhea County Grand Jury decided Monday that there was not enough evidence to warrant a trial of a Rhea County man who shot and killed his son-in-law last February.

District Attorney Mike Taylor and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent David Emiren presented evidence to the grand jury, seeking an original indictment against James Blaylock, 48, of the Cranmore Cove community west of Dayton. Blaylock was never arrested in connection with the shooting death of his son-in-law, Roger Stone, 42, of Dayton.

“The case was investigated extensively by the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department as well as TBI,” Taylor said Friday. “We presented the evidence in the case as well as the law regarding second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. We also advised the grand jury of the law on self-defense. They no-billed all of the charges.”

Taylor said that since no one is allowed in the grand jury room while it deliberates, he doesn’t know why the grand jury decided to issue a No Bill.

Stone became upset Feb. 26 when he couldn’t find his wife, Melissa, according to Chief Deputy John Argo with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department. First he called, then he went to Blaylock’s home on Montgomery Road off of Cranmore Cove Road. The two men argued, and Stone finally left.

Melissa Stone was not at the Blaylock home but was staying with another family member, Argo said.

Stone drove over to the Blaylock home again just after 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Argo.

Blaylock then stepped out onto the front porch of his doublewide mobile home armed with a Winchester 20-gauge pump shotgun.

“According to the witnesses, Blaylock told Stone to get off his property,” Sheriff Mike Neal said last March. “Stone refused to leave and began moving toward the home. Blaylock fired one warning shot. Stone is then supposed to have said, ‘you’re going to have to kill me,’ and ran toward the home.”

Blaylock fired a second shot, striking Stone in the chest with a load of birdshot from less than 15 yards away, the sheriff said.

Stone turned around, walked back to his Chevrolet Blazer and sat down in the driver’s seat.

Sgt. Matt Rose with the sheriff’s department was the first officer on the scene, arriving at 2:21 p.m., just moments after the shooting.

Rose said he moved to the Blazer and saw Stone inside. He then became aware of Blaylock sitting on the steps to the porch.

“Blaylock said, ‘I shot him,’” Rose said Monday.

Rose then moved to a position where he could cover both Blaylock and Stone until Deputy Josh Jordan arrived a moment later.

“I checked on Stone and I could tell he had been shot with a shotgun,” Rose said. “His breathing was real shallow, but he was still alive.”

Dayton Patrolman Adam Smith arrived next and then Deputy Charlie Qualls. The four officers secured the scene, and Qualls took Blaylock into temporary custody.

Paramedics from Rhea County Emergency Medical Service arrived and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They transported Stone to Rhea Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Officers found the shotgun lying on the porch railing. Blaylock had unloaded the shotgun prior to police arriving. No weapon was found on Stone.

Three women inside the home, as well as the neighbor in the driveway confirmed Blaylock’s version of events, according to Neal.