Man charged in death of woman found after Athens church fire

ATHENS, Tenn. (WATE) — An Athens man is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of a woman whose body was found after a fire at a church earlier this month , the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

In a release on Saturday, the TBI explained that Kyle Hickox, 36, was charged with one count of second-degree murder on Friday.

On August 15, the TBI special agents certified in fire and explosives investigations  began investigating a fire at St. Mark AME Zion Church in the 700 block of North Jackson Street in Athens. While searching the scene, authorities found a woman’s body. The victim was later identified as Linda Buchanan, 69, of Athens.

In the TBI’s release on Saturday, the agency explained that an autopsy determined Buchanan died before the fire. The investigation and evidence collected by the TBI with the assistance of the Athens Police Department led investigators to believe that Hickox was the person responsible for Buchanan’s death and the fire at the church, the TBI said.

Hickox was arrested on Friday and booked into the McMinn County Jail on a $600,000 bond. The TBI added that there may be additional charges as the investigation continues.

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