On August 9, 2005, a tragic event unfolded at the Roane County Courthouse in Kingston, Tennessee, during a sentencing hearing for George Hyatte, an inmate at Brushy Mountain Prison.

His wife, Jennifer Hyatte, a former prison nurse, left the courtroom in tears after his sentencing and retrieved a 9 mm handgun from her Ford Explorer. As Corrections Officers Wayne “Cotton” Morgan and Larry “Porky” Harris escorted George Hyatte from the courthouse to a TDOC van parked in the open lot—lacking the sally port and advanced security measures present today—Jennifer fatally shot Officer Morgan and seriously wounded Officer Harris, spurred by her husband’s command to “shoot them.”

This incident triggered a nationwide manhunt for the Hyattes, who were later convicted in 2007 for murder and assault, receiving life sentences without parole. The event profoundly impacted courthouse security, leading to upgrades like sally ports and enhanced monitoring across Tennessee and beyond, and highlighted issues like cell phone use in prisons.

Tomorrow, at 8:15 AM, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Roane County Courthouse will honor Cotton Morgan, an Army veteran and career corrections officer, and Porky Harris, who later returned to work as a K-9 officer before retiring. The ceremony, attended by local officials, law enforcement, and potentially family members, will be simple and respectful, with a wreath placed on the courthouse steps until sunset.

A concurrent ceremony at Morgan County Correctional Complex, which replaced Brushy Mountain, will occur at 10 AM. The public is invited to join in remembering the sacrifice of these officers and honoring the ongoing service of law enforcement.