Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond announced that Zachary Justin Hayes, 27, was convicted on January 16, 2026, for the murder of Kimberly Hayes. The conviction stems from a 2023 investigation conducted by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and led by Detective Isaac Staley.

Following the conviction, Hayes was sentenced to 37 years at 100% service to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

District Attorney Ryan Desmond and Assistant District Attorney Tyler Parks prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Tennessee.