Sevier County Couple Charged in Child’s Death

TBI Press Release by Leslie Earhart 

KNOXVILLE – A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Gatlinburg Police Department has resulted in the indictment of a Sevier County couple in connection with the death of their child.

On July 14th, at the request of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn, TBI Special Agents joined the Gatlinburg Police Department in investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 2-year-old Kipp Phillips. On that day, officers with the Gatlinburg Police Department responded to a home in the 400 block of Laurel Avenue after being notified that a child had been left in a vehicle overnight. Upon arrival, the child was found deceased. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information leading to Anthony D. Phillips (DOB 3-14-91) and Jade E. Phillips (DOB 11-5-92), the child’s parents, as the individuals responsible for his death.

On Monday, the Sevier County Grand Jury returned indictments charging each with two counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Child Abuse and one count of Aggravated Child Neglect. This afternoon, information was developed that Anthony and Jade Phillips were at a home in Westmoreland, Tennessee. TBI Agents, with the assistance of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, arrested the couple without incident. Both were booked into the Sumner County Jail where they are being held on a $250,000 bond.

Anthony Phillips

Jade Phillips

Arrest made in Deck Road body discovery. Man charged.

An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Cookeville Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, has resulted in the indictment of a Jackson County man on a murder charge.

At the request of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, on December 18, 2016, TBI Special Agents began investigating the discovery of a body on a logging road off Deck Road in western Cumberland County. The victim was ultimately identified as Donna Roam of Sparta. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that led them to a suspect and location in Jackson County, at which time 15th District Attorney General Tommy Thompson’s office also became involved. The investigation led Agents to Bobby Dale Haney as the individual responsible for Donna Roam’s death.

On Friday, the Jackson County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Haney with one count of First Degree Murder. Early Saturday morning, Haney was arrested during a traffic stop by Jackson County deputies. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail and is being held without bond.