Two people have been arrested for the murder of a Tennessee Army National Guard soldier in 2019.
On Tuesday, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Eric Austin Byrd and Amanda James Bishop in connection to the murder of Specialist Jacob Bishop.
Specialist Bishop was found dead in his home in Lenoir City by his mother on Oct. 1, 2019. His body was shot multiple times and bound by zip ties, according to police.
At the time of his murder police said he had just returned from a deployment to Poland and his murder was not random.
“Today’s arrests mark a crucial step towards justice for Jacob Bishop and his family,” said Sheriff Davis. “This case has remained a top priority for our office, and I commend the relentless efforts of our detectives and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
The arrests were made after a joint investigation that involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Maryville Police Department, Lenoir City Police Department, Knoxville Police Department, Sulphur Springs Police Department, TX, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, TX, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson County Sheriff’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, University of Tennessee Regional Forensics Center and the Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC).
According to Sherrif Davis, advancements in technology brought about new evidence that led to arrests after 5 years.
Byrd and Bishop were charged with first-degree murder and are being held at the Loudon County Detention Center on $1 million bonds.
Amanda Bishop was married to Specialist Jacob Bishop at the time of his death and Byrd is Amanda Bishop’s distant cousin, according to deputies.
Social media posts indicate Specialist Jacob Bishop was allegedly engaged to another woman, Brittany Kindred. while still married to Amanda at the time of his death.
Videos and pictures show the two embracing upon his return from his deployment to Poland in May of 2019.
“We hope that these arrests bring some measure of peace to Jacob Bishop’s family and all those affected by this senseless tragedy,” Sheriff Davis added.
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