Bledsoe County shooting victim lay dead for 12 hours

photo Casey Lee Anderson

A man shot multiple times at a home under construction south of Pikeville lay dead all day Tuesday while the accused shooter and his companions kept working, Bledsoe County, Tenn., authorities said.

Casey L. Anderson, 32, is charged with criminal homicide and is being held without bond pending a hearing Friday in Bledsoe County General Sessions Court, authorities said.

Investigator Ricky Seals said Wednesday that the body of a black man was found dead at 883 Humble Cemetery Road where workers have been building a house for property owner Rocky McDowell.

The victim, who was identified as Orlando F. Smith, 39, had been dead at least 12 hours when authorities arrived on the scene just after 8 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Seals said. Investigators believe the shooting might have occurred around 2 or 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Anderson admitted to authorities he had shot the victim multiple times with multiple weapons, Seals said.

Seals said Anderson and two women, all white with links to the Chattanooga area, were still on the scene when authorities arrived. They apparently were working at the home all day until the homeowner, McDowell, got to the property, found the body and called authorities.

McDowell is not involved in the slaying, he said.

Sheriff Jimmy Morris said the victim's body was lying just outside the camper at the work site and it had been somewhat camouflaged.

Anderson "is pretty well-known in the judicial system," Morris said. "He has assaults on officers and things of that nature."

The sheriff and state investigators said they are still trying to determine a motive in the slaying.

"We're continuing to follow some solid and significant leads, but cannot yet discuss those publicly," TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said.

The body was taken Wednesday to the TBI Crime Lab in Nashville to determine his identity, the number of gunshot wounds to his body and the types of weapons used.

Anderson has served time at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex, west of Pikeville. Authorities said Anderson is also wanted in Hamilton County on other charges.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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