Athens man charged with murder after deadly church fire

MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a man has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly church fire that occurred earlier this month.

On August 15, according to the TBI, special agents began investigating a fire that broke out at St. Mark AME Zion Church in Athens.

According to the TBI, during the investigation, authorities found 69-year-old Linda Buchanan in the church, and an autopsy revealed that she had died before the fire.

Further investigative efforts and evidence collected by special agents with assistance from the Athens Police Department revealed that 36-year-old Kyle Hickox was responsible for Buchanan's death and the church fire, according to the TBI.

Hickox was arrested by TBI agents on Friday and charged with second-degree murder. He was booked into the McMinn County Jail on $600,000 bail. TBI said additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

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