Issued today from 7th District Attorney General Dave Clark:

Clinton, Tennessee – Following an investigation by the Rocky Top Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, indictments were issued by the Anderson County Grand Jury on September 1, 2020 against George Michael Patterson, age 69, for one (1) count of First Degree Murder. Mr. Patterson has remained incarcerated since being charged in 2019.

In a three (3) day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Sarah W. Keith and Meredith E. Slemp, obtained a conviction of Second Degree Murder against a man who shot his unarmed neighbor four (4) times after a verbal altercation had ensued on or about November 23, 2019. The victim in this matter was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Rocky Top Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

General Clark would like to thank the Rocky Top Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Rocky Top Fire Department, Anderson County EMS, Knox County Regional Forensic Center, Assistant District Attorneys Sarah W. Keith and Meredith E. Slemp, Judge Ryan M. Spitzer, the Anderson County Criminal Court staff, and the jurors for their exceptional work during the investigation of this case and prosecution of the Defendant. Victim Witness Coordinator, Katherine Sellers, aided in the prosecution of this case as well.

General Clark remarked “we are grateful to everyone involved in this case for bringing justice to the victim and his grieving family. We continue to send our condolences to the family.”