Man Charged with Murder of Navy Veteran 39 Years Later

A Navy veteran’s murder has been solved nearly four decades later, Maryville, Tenn., police said on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Billy Wayne Hearon died on Jan. 4, 1985, at 28, in the Shady Acres Trailer Park in Maryville, Tenn. On Monday, Nov. 4, Roger Oody, now 62, who is currently serving a life sentence for an unrelated 1987 murder, was charged with first-degree murder, the Maryville Police Department announced in a Nov. 6 press conference.

Oody, who was 22 at the time of the murder, was “acquaintances” with Hearon, Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said at a Nov. 6 press conference.

Hearon was fatally stabbed around 70 times and found dead with blunt force trauma to his head in the Tennessee trailer park. Before his death, Hearon served in the U.S. Navy until he suffered a career-ending injury that prohibited him from working again. He was the 11th of 15 children in his family.

Hearon’s siblings have continued seeking answers, with two of his sisters remaining in contact with the Maryville Police Department and Crisp.

“The Hearon family, I just want them to know that we are very pleased to bring some resolve and closure in regard to their brother,” Crisp said. “I know that’s weighted heavy on their hearts and minds because they’ve shared that with me.”

Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond said Oody’s arrest came after a 2023 local news story about Hearon’s unsolved homicide “led to the development of evidence that otherwise we would not have.”

Authorities then utilized investigative technologies and techniques and discovered new evidence over the past several months. Additionally, there is no statute of limitations for first-degree murder in Tennessee, so law enforcement could pursue the investigation.

Crisp confirmed that Oody was a person of interest during the investigation. “His name was brought forth at that time. He was looked at,” he said, adding that, at the time, there “wasn’t any evidence, beyond reasonable doubt.”

On Nov. 4, Oody was indicted by a Blount County Grand Jury. The next day, he was booked at the Blount County Justice Center. He is set to make his initial court appearance on Nov. 8.

Oody is currently serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Roy Stevens. Oody was sentenced in May 1991 for the Oct. 3, 1987 murder of Stevens. Desmond said that based on the law of the 1980s, Oody would possibly be eligible for parole in 2035 due to the amount of time he’s already served.

“Without going into too much detail, I think you’ll learn that homicide is related to our homicide, that there is a nexus and a connection between the two of them,” Desmond said.

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Representatives for Maryville Police Department and Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.