Blount County, TN – A Blount County man will spend decades behind bars after a jury convicted him of murder in a high-profile local case, according to prosecutors.
According to the Blount County District Attorney’s Office, Zachary Justin Hayes, 27, was convicted on Friday, January 16, 2026, for the murder of Kimberly Hayes following a lengthy investigation that began in 2023.
Prosecutors said the case was investigated by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and led by Detective Isaac Staley, with evidence presented to a Blount County jury during the trial. After deliberations, jurors returned a guilty verdict.
Following the conviction, Hayes was sentenced to 37 years at 100% service, meaning he must serve the full sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction without eligibility for early release, according to court officials.
District Attorney Ryan Desmond announced the outcome, stating the case was prosecuted by his office alongside Assistant District Attorney Tyler Parks, who represented the State of Tennessee during trial proceedings.
Court records show the conviction stems from the killing of Kimberly Hayes, though prosecutors did not release additional details about the circumstances of the crime in the sentencing announcement.
Officials emphasized the outcome reflects years of investigative and prosecutorial work and credited law enforcement and legal teams involved in bringing the case to trial.
Hayes will now be transferred to state custody to begin serving his sentence.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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