A seven-year-old girl was killed in a tragic accident in her yard on Tuesday evening, April 10, according to the Putnam Sheriff’s Department.
Marissa Wilmoth, daughter of Roger and Mary Alice Wilmoth, was playing with other children in the back yard of her home at White’s Point when she was fatally injured in an accident involving a collapsed tree house, according to Deputy Sgt. Jimmy Patterson.
He said Deputies Trevor Barrett, Matt Hickey, Steve Elrod and Chris Miller were sent to the location to assist Putnam Ambulance medics “who were responding to an injured child” report around 6:30 p.m.
“Dispatch advised that the injury occurred as the result of a collapsed tree house and the child was unconscious,” the report says.
Ambulance medics and deputies rendered first aid to the child and she was transported to Cookeville Regional Medial Center, where she died, Sgt. Patterson’s report says.
The report also says that the child and other children had been playing on a wooden playset/swinger which tipped over in the incident.
Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jacky Farley said he sent deputies to the scene in the hope that they could assist in helping the child.
“This is a very sad and tragic accident, and we extend our sympathies to the family,” Chief Farley said.
Marissa was a student at Algood Christian Academy.
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A man wanted for murder in Ohio was arrested in the parking lot of the Walmart store in Algood on Tuesday afternoon, April 10, police said.
Jason William Waller, 36, Springfield, Ohio, had driven here from Ohio to meet with an old high school friend who happens to be a reserve police officer in Monterey, Algood Police Chief Jim Eldridge said.
“And when they met in the parking lot of Walmart, Waller allegedly confessed to his old friend that he had been involved in a murder in Ohio,” Chief Eldridge said.
The reserve police officer immediately contacted the Algood Police Department and reported what his old friend had confessed, the chief said.
“Lt. Mark West and other officers then went to the scene and confirmed with Ohio authorities that Waller is wanted there on a first degree murder charge, and he was taken into custody without further incident.”
A warrant signed by Algood Officer Justin Medlin says that Ohio authorities allege that Waller committed murder there and fled the state to avoid prosecution.
He was being held without bond awaiting extradition to Ohio.
Chief Eldridge said his officers did not interrogate Waller, but simply took him to jail to be held for Ohio authorities. His truck was seized and impounded and will be turned over to the Ohio authorities.
Chief Eldridge said he does not have details of the alleged murder, but court records say a “knife was used in homicide.”
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Two teenage boys were arrested and removed from their school, Monterey High, Tuesday, April 10, in connection with a bomb threat there the week before.
The 15-year-old 9th grader and 17-year-old 11th grader were arrested in the case after an investigation by Putnam Sheriff’s Detective Roger Cooper and Deputy Jennifer White, the school resource officer, and State Bomb and Arson Investigator Greg Whittaker.
The two are now charged with making a “false bomb report,” which is a Class C felony, according to Putnam Juvenile Court Administrator Greg Bowman.
The bomb threat was written on a school restroom wall and discovered about 11:15 am. Wednesday, April 4.
The school was evacuated while police made a search and conducted an initial investigation, and school did not resume until 1 p.m. that day.
Juvenile court records say the message found on the restroom wall said “bomb threat at 12 p.m. 4-4-12.”
Monterey High Principal Sonja Farley confirmed that two students were removed from school in connection with the case, but declined any further comment.
Juvenile Court Administrator Bowman said the two boys were booked into the Juvenile Detention Center and later posted their $2,500 bond and were released.
They were to have appeared in court last Monday, April 16.