By Dick Cook
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Three men have been charged in connection with a 2005 fire that left a Lowery Street man dead, Bradley County authorities said Wednesday.
Johnny Tyler Scroggins, 49; Benny Fleaston Shelton, 47; and Eddie Dean Shelton, 46, have been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in the death of Thomas Franklin Chastain, officials said.
Mr. Scroggins and Benny Shelton were arrested Tuesday, according to sheriff’s department spokesman Bob Gault. Mr. Shelton was in jail on unrelated charges, he said.
Eddie Shelton was arrested Wednesday after investigators acting on a tip found him in Polk County, officials said. Eddie and Benny Shelton are distantly related, he said.
Mr. Scroggins and Benny Shelton were arraigned in General Sessions Court on Wednesday. They were ordered held without bond pending a Nov. 21 court date, records show.
Eddie Shelton was being interviewed in Bradley County late Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Gault said.
Bradley County Detective David Shoemaker said investigators reinterviewed witnesses and used follow-up information to make the case.
Mr. Chastain’s body was found inside his burned trailer on Dec. 20, 2005. According to an affidavit of arrest, investigators found traces of a flammable substance in three areas of the trailer.
Detective Shoemaker said the motive is still under investigation. The affidavit stated that Benny Shelton was overheard saying that “he was glad that he got rid of (Mr. Chastain) because now he did not have to worry about (Mr. Chastain) not paying for drugs.”
An autopsy showed that Mr. Chastain’s blood alcohol level was 0.21 and he had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system.
According to the affidavit, witnesses told investigators that Eddie Shelton “doped up” Mr. Chastain and took him to his trailer on the night of the fire. Eddie Shelton poured gas inside the house while Benny Shelton poured gas outside, the document stated.
The affidavit cited one witness who said he didn’t come forward immediately because of death threats from Eddie Shelton.
A witness told investigators he saw Mr. Scroggins driving a truck away from the burning house with Benny Shelton in the passenger seat.