Michael Cummins

Michael Cummins had a documented history of legal and behavioral issues prior to the 2019 murders in Sumner County, Tennessee. He had been placed on probation and was under a court order to undergo a mental health evaluation, which he failed to complete. As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest in the days leading up to the killings. Cummins was also subject to a restraining order from a former girlfriend.

The series of murders took place over a 10-day period in April 2019 in Sumner County, Tennessee. On 17 April, the first victim, James Fox Dunn Jr., was found dead inside a burned cabin. He had been decapitated, and a rifle from the residence was missing. Authorities later determined that Michael Cummins was responsible for the murder and the arson.

On 24 April, Cummins killed 69-year-old Shirley Fehrle, a retired nurse, in an apparent attempt to steal her vehicle. Investigators stated that Fehrle had no known connection to Cummins.

On 25 April, Cummins murdered six more individuals at a trailer home on Charles Brown Road. The victims included his parents, his uncle, the uncle's girlfriend, and two members of the girlfriend’s family. One of the victims was a 12-year-old girl, who was partially undressed, though authorities confirmed she was not sexually assaulted. All victims died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

Police were initially unable to locate Cummins and considered him a suspect after the discovery of the crime scenes. He was eventually located near a creek and shot by law enforcement during the arrest. One individual, initially found alive at the scene, survived in critical condition but later died in 2022 due to complications stemming from the injuries.

Cummins' trial was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 9 June 2022, he was found competent to stand trial. On 16 August 2023, he pleaded guilty to all charges to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences. He is currently serving his sentence at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee.