After nearly five years of investigation, Tennessee detectives determined that a custody dispute led to the 2019 murder of National Guard member Jacob Bishop, who was found bound with zip ties and shot.
Loudon County officials announced Tuesday that Amanda Bishop, 39, and Eric Byrd, 39, face first-degree murder charges for Jacob’s death. Jacob Bishop, who had recently returned from a deployment in Poland, was killed months after his return home.
NBC News reports that police arrested Amanda Bishop and Byrd on Tuesday.
At a news conference Tuesday, Loudon County Sheriff Jimmy Davis claimed that a heated custody dispute over the couple’s child escalated into led to Jacob Bishop’s murder.
Authorities have not released further details about the custody conflict.
Jacob Bishop was found dead in his Lenoir City apartment a little before 8 a.m. on October 1, 2019. Detectives said he had been bound and shot multiple times.
The sheriff’s office said Bishop’s mother discovered her son’s body. She told WBIR in 2021 that she went to his apartment after he missed work, thinking he overslept.
“Today’s arrests mark a crucial step towards justice for Jacob Bishop and his family,” Davis said.
“This case has remained a top priority for our office, and I commend the relentless efforts of our detectives and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
The defendants remain behind bars on $1 million bonds each.
