Lloyd pleads to killing Wyatt and her 4-year-old

Area News

Related Photos

July 2, 2009

<i>Mullinix: 'I forgive you'</i>

By Michael R. Moser / mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com The Crossville Chronicle Thu Jul 02, 2009, 04:56 PM CDT

For the first time, in a hushed courtroom bursting with heart-sick grief, the father of a young daughter and granddaughter gunned down unmercifully in a church parking lot faced the man who moments earlier admitted to their killings.

John B. Mullinix of Jamestown, the Fentress County Executive, emotionally talked about the conflict of faith he struggled with over the past three years, about how his faith had carried him through the worst nightmare a parent can imagine.

And then he said it. "I forgive you."

He returned to his seat and burst into sobs that can only come from the depths of grief and despair.

Across the way Huston Lloyd struggled throughout the 40-minute hearing to maintain his own composure.

It was his turn. Lloyd, 51, the Middle Tennessee man whose unsolicited rage of passion was the catalyst for the killings, faced the family of Kimberly Wyatt and her four-year-old daughter, Sarah.

"I am sorry."

Like a wedding, families from both sides filed into the Putnam County Justice Center and sat on opposite sides. About 50 family members and friends were there to support the extended Mullinix family. For Huston Lloyd, there were his wife, son and daughter and a couple of other family members.

For the first 30 minutes District Attorney Randy York, with Assistant DA Anthony Craighead and several members of his staff at hand, laid out the case against Lloyd.

Defense attorneys Jack Lowery Jr. of Lebanon and James Simmons from the Nashville area flanked their defendant, at times consoling Lloyd as he alternately sobbed and wiped tears from his eyes with a tissue held in hands manacled by state prison guards.

They did not challenge York's presentation of the case against their client. And it appeared the proceedings had run their legal course when York announced to the court that two members of the Mullinix family wanted to speak.

Criminal Court Judge Leon Burns agreed to hear their statements, asking that they be brief and issuing a word of caution to all present.

First to rise was Kimberly Wyatt's brother, Tyler Mullinix. With tears in his eyes and suppressed utterances of grief, Mullinix told Lloyd, "I have been waiting for three years to ... this tragic mistake you made."

Tyler Mullinix continued that he came to realize he had to forgive Lloyd to be able to "get on with my life." He talked about the closeness of a brother and sister and how badly he missed his big sister and his little niece.

At that point Lloyd buried his head in the table in front of him, crying uncontrollably as his attorneys tried to help him regain control of his emotions.

Tyler ended his remarks by stating, "I do not agree with the sentence ..."

His dad then took the podium, thanked the judge for the opportunity to speak and then turned so he could face Lloyd, seated some ten feet away.

"You just devastated our lives," John Mullinix told the defendant. Mullinix talked about the toll that the crime took, not only on the Mullinix family, but on Lloyd's family. "I looked at your daughter in her wheelchair, with tears in her eyes," he said.

"Only through the mercy of God are you being allowed to live," John Mullinix continued. "God has really dealt with me during these days, and He has impressed upon me to share Jesus Christ with you. You need to turn you life over to Him and repent of your sins."

Then Mullinix told Lloyd taking that step of faith would allow him to spend eternity with Kimberly, Sarah, "and my family."

"I forgive you," the dad said, and quickly walked to his seat where sadness and pain boiling inside over the past three years dissolved into audible, uncontrollable sobs.

Then, in somewhat of a surprise move, Lowery announced to the court that Lloyd wanted to make a brief statement of his own.

He faced the family and said, "God is with me and I do trust in Him. I had evil in me that day."

He then said that he never intended to hurt Sarah, repeating it three times. "I am so sorry for that," he said.

Lloyd continued that he had destroyed the Mullinix family, his own family, the community, "my community. I am sorry."

After the hearing a member of the defense team slipped a handwritten note on a plain white spiral notebook page from Lloyd to York and asked that it be given to the family.

Burns, who had other cases on the docket, announced he was taking a brief recess to allow the families to collect themselves and exit the courtroom. The Mullinix family made it to the foyer outside the courtroom where they paused to hug and console each other one more time.

It was as if they didn't want to leave, but the time had come for the healing to begin.

Text Only

Area News

A champion fair!
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Commissioner Julius Johnson recently presented awards to 56 of the state’s top county agricultural fairs. They were recognized with the Merit Award for outstanding achievement during the 2011 fair season. More than 950 people attended the Fairs Merit Awards recognition dinner at the 90th Annual Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) convention held January 19-21, in Nashville.

February 3, 2012 2 Photos
Test scores to be reflected in final grades
While student achievement and growth on test scores have begun being used to evaluate teacher performance and to score school districts on effectiveness, those scores have not been reflected on an individual student's report card. That will change with the 2012 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) test when state law will require schools to use those scores as part of a student's final grade.

February 3, 2012
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
Counterfeiting draws two-year sentence
A Cumberland County man who was among several local residents charged by Crossville Police with being involved in counterfeiting schemes pleaded guilty last week in Criminal Court and received a two-year prison sentence.

February 3, 2012
Argument over pillows, ashtray, leads to stabbing
A Crossville man suffered a collapsed lung and a woman has been arrested on a felony charge in connection with an incident that took place last week in the city, according to reports.

February 3, 2012
Women charged in theft from employer scheme
Two women were arrested and stolen property recovered after a corporate loss prevention officer uncovered a theft scheme, according to Crossville Police reports.

February 2, 2012
SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers The nation's biggest sporting event produces some staggering statistics, from the number of chicken wings consumed -- 1.25 billion -- to the amount of money some people plan to bet on the game.
February 2, 2012
Special blood drive set today
The American Red Cross is reporting lower donations than expected since the start of 2012. O blood types are particularly low, but all blood types are needed.

February 2, 2012
Trio charged with cockfighting in the city
Three young Cumberland County men charged with fighting roosters said they were only sparring their birds, and not holding a cockfight. Doesn't matter, said Crossville Police, who took the trio into custody and formally charged them with what some call a sport now banned in Tennessee.

February 2, 2012
Residents say 'No Dump'
Residents of the Crab Orchard community told their city council members a landfill isn't welcome in their community at a public hearing last week. Others expressed concern that a landfill would not spur the type of development they envision for the small town east of Crossville.

February 2, 2012 2 Photos
More Area News Headlines

Area News

Search Results

Related Photos

Lloyd pleads to killing Wyatt and her 4-year-old

<i>Mullinix: 'I forgive you'</i>

Site Map

Contact Us