The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been given a grant to use the latest technology, cross-referencing DNA evidence and genealogy information to identify potential suspects in cold cases. In the last few years the TBI has been using brief Youtube videos on their website which call attention to the public the cold cases. These videos can be seen both on Youtube and their website
The TBI spent time with Sheriff Weems referencing the case of Robbie Lawrence who was murdered in his home in 1984. Mr. Lawrence, a teacher in the school system, owner of the Buffalo River Motel, and running a campaign for school superintendent, was murdered when he returned home the evening of April 16, 1984. His fiance, Karen Shamel, discovered him within minutes of his murder since she had been following him home in her own car. She ran next door to get the neighbors to call for an ambulance, and then ran back to Mr. Lawrence's house. He was pronounced dead at the Perry County Community Hospital upon arrival.
The evidence obtained at the scene suggested when Mr. Lawrence went down the hallway of his home toward the bedroom and was shot with his own deer rifle, which was found lying on the bed in a back bedroom, and died immediately. An empty money box was in this bedroom, but it wasn't clear if anything had been in it.
Many people were questioned, K-9 teams attempted to find a trail of the murderer, and several people took polygraphs, but to no avail. The TBI has technology available today through new ways to check DNA that may help solve this case. If it is reopened, as Sheriff Weems states it will be, it will be the oldest cold case file on record to date that is being reopened, with the hopes the rifle will reveal more information than what was known in 1984.
The renewed interest in the case began when several weeks ago when Sheriff Weems contacted fellow Perry Countian Alec Richard, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Bill Lee, to see if the state would offer a reward in the case or honor a reward authorized by former Governor Lamar Alexander in 1985, one year after the original investigation. Governor Lee agreed and spoke to the TBI Director, and the case was prioritized, said Sheriff Weems.
The next step was the TBI visited Sheriff Weems and a video was shot with Sheriff Weems and former Sheriff Thomas Ward, who was Linden Police Chief, when the murder took place. Plans are being made to send DNA evidence to a university lab to prepare the rifle for comparison to genealogy data, utilizing the TBI grant funds.
Sheriff Weems stated, "I've had an interest in this case since I was a child. I can remember sitting on Robbi's father's lap while he drove a road grader for the county. Since being law enforcement, I've spent numerous hours with former Sheriff Ward and others, talking about this unsolved case.
"I'm a firm believer that persistence pays off. As Sheriff, I've strived to bring closure to Perry Countians who are still seeking the truth as to what happened that warm spring night in 1984," Weems said.
