Jerry Ray Mullins, 49, of Henderson, was found guilty of second degree murder last week by the Chester County Grand Jury.
On October 25, 2019, the Chester County Sheriff’s Department was called to the residence at 4680 Old Friendship Road in Finger. Upon arrival deputies found Samantha Melendez dead from a gunshot wound. The victim’s fiancée, Mullins, was at the scene and later claimed that he shot the victim after she attacked him with a box cutter. Mullins was interviewed by Investigator Seth Preslar with the Chester County Sheriff’s Department and Agents Michael Parson and Celinda Davidson both of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The crime scene was processed and it was determined that Mullins’ statements were inconsistent with physical evidence and photographs obtained from the scene. Cuts that Mullins claimed were inflicted upon him by the victim were believed by law enforcement and a medical expert to be self-inflicted in an effort to claim self-defense.
After proceeding through Chester County General Sessions Court, Mullins was indicted on June 4, 2020, for first degree murder. A trial of the matter began March 22 and ended two days later with the jury finding the defendant guilty of second degree murder. Sentencing is set for April 28, 2022, where the defendant will face fifteen to twenty-five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.
General Pickens stated, “Domestic violence is a very real problem not just in this area but across our country. The Chester County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation did an outstanding job investigating this case which allowed Assistant District Attorney General Josh Dougan to expose the Defendant’s story for what it was: a pack of lies. No amount of time will be sufficient to fill the void in the hearts of the victim’s loved ones, but I am glad that the Defendant will be removed from society for a very long time.”
As stated above, the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney General Josh Dougan of the domestic violence prosecution team and investigated by the Chester County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with Investigator Seth Preslar and Agents Michael Parson and Celinda Davidson having primary responsibility.
