The Cookeville Police Department is providing an update regarding the homicide investigation that occurred on Skyline Drive in October 2023, which was previously referenced as a “parallel investigation” in a November 2025 press release.

On October 9, 2023, officers responded to a reported single-vehicle crash in the 900 block of Skyline Drive. Upon arrival, Rodney Morgan (55) of Cookeville was found deceased inside the vehicle. What initially appeared to be a traffic crash was later determined to be a homicide after investigators identified Morgan had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The Cookeville Police Department conducted an extensive and lengthy investigation through witness statements, digital forensic analysis, and continued investigative efforts, detectives identified evidence and presented them to the Putnam County Grand Jury.

As a result of this investigation, the Putnam County Grand Jury returned the following indictments:

These indictments stem from the same investigation referenced in a November 2025 press release, which announced conspiracy charges following the discovery of a murder-for-hire plot connected to this case. Murray is currently in custody at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Skinner is currently in custody in Johnston County, North Carolina awaiting extradition back to Putnam County.

This case represents the result of investigative efforts and collaboration among multiple agencies and personnel.

Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Cooper at (931)520-5335. No further details will be released at this time.