Authorities in Tennessee have charged Amanda Bishop and Eric Byrd with first-degree murder in the killing of National Guardsman Jacob Bishop, who was found bound with zip ties and fatally shot in 2019. The suspects were arrested after a custody dispute involving the couple’s child turned violent. Amanda Bishop, who was Jacob Bishop’s wife at the time of his killing, is Byrd’s cousin. The motive for the murder was allegedly related to the custody battle, but specific details were not provided. Jacob Bishop’s body was discovered by his mother in his apartment in Lenoir City. Despite the arrests, officials noted that there may never truly be closure for the family after the devastating loss. The case involved a long and complex investigation that spanned several years and included multiple law enforcement agencies, resulting in the identification of over 400 possible suspects with ties to Jacob Bishop. However, Amanda Bishop was always considered a top suspect. The sheriff attributed the successful arrests to good detective work and new technology. He expressed relief that after years of uncertainty, they could finally provide some justice to Jacob Bishop’s family. The investigation was ongoing, and court records for the case were not available at the time of the announcement.
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