Bledsoe double homicide now a year old

It’s been a year and four days since Robbin Martin and James Songer were found shot dead at the home they shared on Brock Hollow Road in southern Bledsoe County, Tenn.

The pair were last seen alive at the 2016 July Fourth Celebration in nearby Dunlap, Tenn., authorities said. A “passerby” reported seeing what was later identified as Songer’s body in the yard of their home the next day.

Songer, 41, was found outside with a gunshot wound to the chest. Martin, 49, was inside the home and had been shot multiple times.

Melody Allen, Songer’s second cousin, said recently the family wants to hear from investigators whether they are nearing an arrest or still looking for clues. Allen, 56, of Grand Rapids, Mich., said she and her Songer cousins are holding out hope someone will be brought to justice in the slayings.

Allen said the Songer family has been hit by multiple tragedies over the years.

James Songer’s grandmother witnessed her mother’s murder at the hands of her father and lost her son a few years ago in a farming accident, Allen said.

“Now she’s got James’ death,” Allen said.

State or local authorities have

said little about the investigation. Law enforcement said early on there was a “person of interest” in the case, but have not named any suspects or brought any charges.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials said in April they have limited contact with the victims’ families “so as not to adversely affect the eventual prosecution of the individuals charged.”

In April, Martin family member Allison Panter was seeking to be interviewed by the TBI and wanted more frequent updates from investigators.

On Thursday, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said the investigation was still open and ongoing. Asked whether there is any new information or whether the “person of interest” had been elevated to a suspect, Niland responded via email.

“[W]hen we have an open investigation, we aren’t able to speak to the specifics you’ve asked about,” she said.

Niland encouraged family members and everyone else who know anything that might help to call the TBI’s tip line at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Office at 423-447-2197.