Vehicle Belonging to Murder Defendant Destroyed by Fire

Two days after a fatal stabbing there, members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to 3870 Cookeville Highway, where a Chevy Tahoe caught fire and burned Saturday morning.
Central dispatch received the fire call at 8:59 a.m.
The Tahoe reportedly belongs to 42 year old Anthony (Tony) Crews, the man charged with second degree murder in the stabbing of his girlfriend, 28 year old Ashley Bain.
Upon arrival, county firefighters found the Tahoe ablaze. It was setting in the driveway near the home, parked beside a Mazda Millenia, which reportedly belonged to Bain.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze but the Tahoe was destroyed. Heat from the fire also caused some damage to the driver’s side of the Millenia.
Members of the Main Station, Short Mountain Highway, and Cookeville Highway Stations responded. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene. The cause of the fire is undetermined.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE Saturday that Crews remains incarcerated. He has not yet posted bond since his arrest on Thursday night. Crews is under a $250,000 bond and has been moved to another facility outside DeKalb County.
Firefighters also responded to a fire at a residence on Winter Drive at 3:05 a.m. Saturday morning.
County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that the home belongs to Tommy and Maria Clayborn but that Michael and Tosha Whitson are renting it and living there.
According to Chief Green, the blaze started in the kitchen as a grease fire from the stove. The Whitson’s called 911 and firefighters were dispatched.
Although the fire was brought under control, it caused some damage to the kitchen and a portion of the living home. Smoke spread to other parts of the residence. No one was injured.
Members of the Main Station, Cookeville Highway, and Liberty Stations responded along with DeKalb EMS and Sheriff’s Department.
The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department was called to a chimney fire at a residence on Juniper Lane Thursday afternoon. Firefighters put out the blaze and kept it from spreading to the rest of the house. Although there was some smoke in the home, no one was injured. Because of concerns with the home’s electrical wiring, the family was temporarily relocated.
According to a Red Cross spokesperson, two families were living in the residence, including ten people, five of whom are children. The local chapter of the American Red Cross assisted the families. Jeania Poss and Steve Repasy were the case workers.
Meanwhile, a Red Cross Recruitment Meeting will be held Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m. Anyone wanting to be a Red Cross Volunteer is asked to attend the meeting which will be held in the Smithville Red Cross Office, located at the County Complex. For more information, contact Jeania Poss.