Smyrna, Tennessee — A Smyrna man has been indicted for allegedly killing his father in January.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, a grand jury indicted Thaddeus Lee, 36, on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of his father, Ben J. Lee, 55.
Authorities said the killing occurred Jan. 12 near Lee Road in Smyrna, prompting an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
Lt. Steve Craig said Lee was also indicted on two additional charges: tampering with evidence and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony.
Investigators allege Lee was responsible for the premeditated killing of his father, though officials have not publicly released details about the events that led to the death.
CID Detective Jeremy Murdock served as the lead detective on the case. According to Murdock, investigators gathered substantial evidence during the investigation that led to the indictment.
“A substantial amount of evidence was uncovered leading to the arrest for the premeditated murder of Ben J. Lee,” Murdock said.
Court records show Lee is being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
A court hearing in the case is scheduled for March 26 in Circuit Court, where proceedings related to the indictment are expected to continue.
The investigation remains part of the Sheriff’s Office homicide case files. Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing.
For Smyrna residents, including students and workers traveling through the area, the case highlights an ongoing local homicide investigation now moving through the court system.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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