UPDATE: Tennessee murder suspect captured after months-long manhunt
UPDATE (Sept. 17 6 p.m.) – The Picket County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced the capture of 38-year-old Jessee Wayne Phillips after a months-long manhunt.
Phillips is charged with second-degree murder after a May 2026 shooting incident in Pickett County.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, on May 27, 2026, Pickett County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 1000 block of Parker Road in Pall Mall, Tennessee following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies say they located Christopher Yates suffering from a gunshot wound. Yates was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to authorities, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified Phillips as the alleged shooter. Pickett County authorities issued a warrant charging Phillips with second-degree murder and added him to the TBI’s Most Wanted List.
On June 10, 2026, the case was adopted by the USMS Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Office for fugitive apprehension.
Since that time, USMS investigators say they have pursued numerous leads in collaboration with the USMS Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force London Office, TBI, Kentucky State Police, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. During the week of Sept. 14, those investigative efforts yielded significant information regarding Phillips’ location.
On Thursday, Sept. 17, the USMS, along with the multiple other agencies and the Kentucky State Police Special Response Team, located and arrested Phillipsin the 7700 block of KY-1546 in Monticello, Kentucky.
Following the arrest, law enforcement says a search warrant was executed at the location, resulting in the seizure of multiple firearms in furtherance of the ongoing investigation.
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UPDATE (3:54 pm) – A Tennessee man wanted for murder, whose vehicle was found in Clinton County, KY, is now on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted Alert list.
38-year-old Jesse Wayne Phillips is charged with second-degree murder following a shooting incident in Pickett County, Tennessee Wednesday.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office located his vehicle at a home on Norman Cole Road.
Phillips is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
Information can be provided to TBI by calling 1-800-TBI-FIND
A reward of $2,500 is being offered for information leading to Phillips’ arrest.
CLINTON COUNTY, Ky. – The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a man wanted in a Tennessee murder investigation.
CCSD says Pickett County, Tennessee 911 contacted the department Wednesday regarding a murder suspect, 38-year-old Jesse Phillips, being in the area.
Phillips allegedly shot a victim in the chest and fled Pickett County.
The dispatchers told CCSD that Phillips was driving a small black pickup truck with a yellow hood.
CCSD says it later located the truck at a home on Norman Cole Road.
Phillips is a white male who is 5’11” and weighs 215 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
Phillips has a half-barbed wire, half tribal tattoo on his left arm, a skill tattoo on his right upper arm and an “oulaw” tattoo on his right elbow.
Phillips is charged with second-degree murder.
CCSD says Phillips is armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
If located, call 911.
The investigation is ongoing.
