No charges against Jean Shepard's husband in shooting
NASHVILLE — The husband of late country music star Jean Shepard acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a man inside his Hendersonville home following a fatal stabbing Saturday, according to police.
After meeting with the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office this week, no charges will be brought against 79-year-old Benny Birchfield for the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Travis Sanders, according to Det. Sgt. Jim Vaughn.
After arriving at his home in the 200 block of Elnora Court early Saturday morning, police say Birchfield heard a disturbance in the basement and began calling out for his granddaughter, 18-year-old Icie Hawkins.
“He thought he heard (Hawkins), but he didn’t know for sure what she was saying,” Vaughn told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. “He went down to investigate and… that is when he was confronted by Mr. Sanders.”
When Hendersonville police arrived at the home around 3 a.m. they found Birchfield in the front yard of the residence with a large cut on the side of his neck and head.
Inside, officers located Sanders who had been shot five times with a .38-caliber handgun and was pronounced dead at the scene. Hawkins, who had what police described as self-defense wounds and upper body injures, died on the way to the hospital.
A knife with a 10-inch blade was recovered from the scene. A holster, believed to have been used to carry the weapon, was found on Sanders.
Investigators are still unsure what led to the stabbing.
“This is still an active and ongoing investigation,” Vaughn said. “It’s going to take some time. In order to find a motive we’re going to have to interview a lot of friends and family.”
“We’ve got all the answers now except for the why,” he added.
Family members told The Tennessean that Hawkins had been living with her grandparents to help Shepard, who had Parkinson's disease. After Shepard died in September, Hawkins stayed to help Birchfield with errands and the house, said her mother, Velvet Sloan.
Hawkins and Sanders started dating earlier this year after a few years of friendship. They broke up after Sanders stole money from Hawkins, Sloan said.
A handwritten note from Birchfield, who was released from the hospital Monday, was read by Vaughn during Tuesday’s press conference.
“I would like to thank the Hendersonville police and fire departments for their quick response and professionalism during this tragic time,” he wrote. “I also want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, and for those who have asked, I am okay and my wounds are slowly healing.”
Follow Josh Cross on Twitter: @joshcross