DA: Man convicted in 2022 Kingston double homicide gets ‘lengthy’ sentence

ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A man convicted on multiple charges following a 2022 double homicide in Kingston has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, according to District Attorney General Russell Johnson.

Johnson shared on Facebook that Lonnie Dale Wright was sentenced to serve 33 years in prison “for the murders of Steve Groover and Cindy Scruggs.” Groover, 67, and Scruggs, 62, were found dead inside a home in the 600 block of Buck Creek Road on Monday, May 16, 2022.

Wright was charged in 2022 with two counts of first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle, vandalism and theft of a motor vehicle, however, Johnson’s post only mentions three six-year sentences to be run consecutively with the maximum 15-year sentence for the attempted robbery conviction.

Johnson noted that Write was found guilty on multiple counts after a jury trial.

“Multiple family members gave victim impact statements to help ADA Bob Edwards and ADA Jonathan Edwards make their point that Wright’s lengthy criminal history made him deserving of the sentence, impressing the Judge that Wright remains a threat to the community,” Johnson wrote.

Wright has been in jail since he was arrested in 2022, Johnson said, adding that Wright will receive credit for the time he has already served.

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