Carter couple indicted on murder charge

POSTED: 6:18 AM Nov 16 2012   UPDATED: 5:37 PM Nov 16 2012
CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. -

A Carter County grand jury indicted a man and woman on a murder charge.

Authorities say they killed 78-year-old Lonnie Townsend on April 17th.

Timothy Jason Pate and Whitney Kristina Harris were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and tampering with evidence.

Authorities say Townsend befriended the couple and provided help for them and their two children.

They say he was visiting the couple one day when Pate hit Townsend in the head with a hammer.

Police say the two rolled his body in a carpet and dumped it in the woods.

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