Carter, TN: Police say one in Carter murder-suicide had recently lost job

By JOHN THOMPSON

Published August 11th, 2009

ELIZABETHTON — The Carter County Sheriff’s Department is continuing its investigation of a weekend shooting that has been classified as a murder and a suicide.

The victims were identified as Conley Ray Waycaster, 38, and Sharon Lynn Waycaster, 40. Investigators said they were almost newlyweds, having married on Valentine’s Day. They said there had been no previous domestic violence calls at the residence.

The deaths mark the third murder-suicide shooting in the county in the past year, but unlike the two previous incidents there were witnesses to the latest tragedy. Chief Deputy Ron Street said the shooting was seen by Mr. Waycaster’s mother and father.

He said investigators have not yet been able to talk to the witnesses because of the shock they were experiencing so soon after the shooting. Street said Mr. Waycaster’s mother was especially overwhelmed by what she had seen and had to be rushed to the hospital shortly after the shooting.

“We hope that now that a little time has passed they will be able to talk with us now,” Street said Monday afternoon.

Sheriff Chris Mathes said one thing that the investigation has revealed is that the couple may have been suffering from economic hardships like many in the nation. He said Mr. Waycaster had recently lost his job.

Deputies were called to 205 Bear Hollow Road at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Lt. Keith Range was the first officer on the scene, followed almost immediately by Lt. Tom Smith. Range found the bodies of a man and a woman lying in the yard outside their home. Mr. Waycaster was lying on top of Mrs. Waycaster. Street said both appeared to be dead when the officers arrived. Both had gunshot wounds to the head.

Also found at the scene were two pistols. Only one, a 9 mm., had been fired. A cordless phone was also lying next to the bodies.