On Tuesday, a Morgan County grand jury indicted Reginald Steed on charges of first-degree murder and possessing an unlawful weapon in a penal facility following the fatal February 24, 2026, stabbing of Morgan County Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo.

Steed, who is already serving a 27-year sentence for aggravated assault, especially aggravated robbery, and attempted voluntary manslaughter, is currently being held at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Beyond the indictment, the grand jury heard testimony from witnesses and received a status update on a broader Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) probe into safety concerns at the Morgan County Correctional Complex.

This independent TBI investigation was launched in April after Attorney General Russell Johnson consulted with state senators, including State Senator Ken Yager, who claims the Tennessee Department of Correction ignored warnings about faulty cell door locks and staffing shortages. The grand jury’s addendum highlighted critical systemic issues exposed by the stabbing and its aftermath, specifically citing problems with classification decisions, door lock check policies, and delays in replacing narrow jam door docks.

The grand jury has adjourned and is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, June 23, to review further information and testimony from the ongoing TBI investigation.