Russellville, TN: Man indicted for murder after girlfriend’s shooting

By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer

A man who claims his live-in girlfriend shot herself as they argued in January has been indicted on a murder charge.

Franklin County Courthouse officials said Jason Dewayne Green, 35, 325 Oak Hills Drive, Russellville, was indicted for murder during the October grand jury session.

Green is accused of killing Shay Nicole Ledlow, 27.

Ledlow died Jan. 30 at Green’s residence, where they were living together. Authorities said the two had been seeing each other on and off for several months.

Reports indicate Ledlow was shot once in the mouth with a .44-caliber pistol. Law enforcement agents testifying during a preliminary hearing in April said Green called 911 operators after the shooting. They said Green reported he and Ledlow argued and she shot herself on a dare.

Investigators said physical evidence from the scene does not match a suicide theory.

Testimony during the preliminary hearing revealed the angle at which Ledlow was shot would have required her to use her left hand, and she was right-handed. Investigators said she was holding a cigarette in her right hand at the time of her death. When deputies arrived at the scene, Ledlow was found face down in the living room floor and the cigarette was still between the fingers of her right hand, authorities said.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.

During the preliminary hearing, ABI investigator Rodney Knight said when he walked into the room he noticed things that were not consistent with the story Green told investigators.

“It looked as if she had shot herself (while) lying on the ground,” Knight said during the hearing. “With her small hands, it would have been virtually impossible for her to fire this gun single-handed.”

Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the case is scheduled for arraignment Jan. 4 and it could be placed on the February trial docket.

Murder is a Class A felony and is punishable by 10 years to life in prison if convicted.

Green is being held in the Franklin County Jail. His bail was revoked for a driving under the influence charge and other charges, including theft charges involving stolen vehicles found at a auto salvage yard he and his father operate.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.