Tragedy in Sevier County: Man Charged with Murder and Animal Cruelty After Violent Incident
Sevier County, TN – May 28, 2025
A quiet evening in Sevier County turned into a scene of unimaginable violence when deputies responded to a distress call involving a man in the midst of a severe mental health crisis. Now, a man is dead, a family is shattered, and another man sits behind bars facing serious charges.
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 1000 block of Indian Gap Road. Reports to 911 Dispatch warned of a volatile situation: a man with a history of violence and drug use was in crisis and had allegedly killed the family dog.
When authorities arrived, they began piecing together a disturbing series of events. Investigators say 36-year-old Thomas Josha Carter brutally killed the family dog—drowning, mutilating, and setting the animal on fire. Following this shocking act, Carter’s father, 59-year-old Thomas Lee Carter, left the home.
Later, Thomas Lee Carter returned to the residence with another family member—41-year-old Jeffrey Andrew Todd, Carter’s sibling. A physical altercation quickly erupted between the two brothers. During the fight, Jeffrey Todd sustained multiple stab wounds.
Thomas Lee Carter rushed the wounded man to a nearby parking lot and called 911. Emergency medical personnel transported Jeffrey Todd to LeConte Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Detectives from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), launched an extensive investigation across multiple crime scenes. Officers soon located Thomas Josha Carter at the Indian Gap Road home and took him into custody without further incident.
He has been formally charged with Second Degree Murder and Aggravated Animal Cruelty and is currently being held in the Sevier County Jail. A court date in General Sessions Court is pending.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. More details may be released as the case develops.
The tragic events of that evening have left a community stunned and a family grieving—not just for a life lost, but for the devastating unraveling of a household.
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