Phone evidence led to double homicide arrests
Evidence collected shortly after the discovery of an apparent gang-motivated double homicide last month led to charges of first-degree murder for William Wright, 18, and a 17-year-old boy last week.
Thomas Holder, 20, and Rayshann Underwood, 17, were discovered on the morning of June 20 shot to death in the Highland Memorial Gardens cemetery in North Brainerd. Autopsy reports showed Underwood suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the arm, torso and head, while Holder suffered one to his head.
While working on the scene, an investigator found a cell phone that belonged to Underwood that was known to be in his possession moments prior to the approximate time of his death, according to court records.
It was also known to authorities that Holder had recently acquired a “large sum of money” and had been showing it on Facebook prior to his death, but at the scene, his body was found with his pockets turned out and he had no money on his person.
Hours before their deaths, just before 1 a.m., both victims were captured on video at the East Lake Courts public housing development getting into passenger seats of a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser, as was a juvenile already known to police. Wright also was seen getting into the driver’s seat.
Data from cell towers showing the position of Underwood’s phone coincided with video of the car taken at East Lake Courts as well as at Woodlawn Apartments, where Holder was seen exiting the car briefly before getting back in. Shortly after, his phone could be tracked to a location close to the cemetery.
An independent witness heard a gunshot coming from the cemetery at about 1:30 p.m. and the car was captured on video returning to East Lake Courts about 10 minutes later. Neither victim exited the vehicle.
Wright and the juvenile each were charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as especially aggravated robbery, but already were in custody on unrelated charges. Wright’s next court appearance will be today before Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Christine Sell.
The next court date for the juvenile is unclear.
Chattanooga has seen 19 homicides in 2017, one fewer than had been experienced by the city in 2016, which proved to be a record year. Most recently, a woman was found deceased in a home on Sunday night with apparent blunt-force trauma.