Thursday, July 9, 2009

Husband arrested for strangling wife to death in New Tazewell


Posted: Jul 09, 2009 9:38 AM EDTUpdated: Jul 09, 2009 5:44 PM EDT

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Anchor/Reporter

NEW TAZEWELL (WATE) -- Tony Eugene Harrison, 39, of New Tazewell is charged with criminally negligent homicide for apparently strangling his wife, Vickie Harrison, 42, to death Wednesday at their home.

After receiving information about an incident, Claiborne County sheriff's deputies went to the Harrison's home at 145 Mariah Lane at 1:45 a.m. Thursday. They found Vickie covered up in a child's bedroom.

She was getting ready for work when investigators say Tony strangled her without using any objects.

Investigators believe Vickie had been dead since 8:00 a.m. Wednesday. An autopsy has been ordered.

The couple's two children, a 10-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, were asleep in another room. Tony later drove the children to their grandparents home in Kentucky.

Tony turned himself in Thursday morning and was booked into the Claiborne County Jail.

Investigators say the couple had been having marital problems, but there was no prior history of domestic violence.

The couple grew up together and were married for 21 years. Vickie was a realtor for Realty Group in Tazewell and worked part time at Sears. Tony is a factory worker.

Tony's brother-in-law, Tim Loveday, says he can't believe Tony would strangle his sister. "Tony was a good guy. We all loved him, but something happened, something snapped."

"You know what? When they first told me, my emotions was anger. I was like, just let me get a hold of him, but to be honest with you, the God part of me, I feel for his soul," Loveday adds.

"My sister was a wonderful woman. She was a good mother. She loved everybody and everybody loved her and the world's going to be a lot less without her in it," Loveday says.

The sheriff's department says Tony is cooperating with the investigation. The TBI is assisting in the investigation.

Vickie's mother lives next door to the couple and found out about her daughter's death Thursday morning.

Vickie's family describes Tony as reclusive and someone who never showed his emotions.

Tony's bond will be set when he's arraigned.

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