The tranquil woods of North Springs hold a somber secret, the unsolved murder of Charles Edward Carr Jr. On June 28th, 1988, loggers stumbled upon a shallow grave between Ward’s Fork Road and Branch Road, unearthing the body of a man who had been missing for nearly a week.
The victim was identified as Charles Edward Carr Jr., a native of Overton County residing in Baxter, Tennessee.
Carr’s case is a chilling reminder of the enduring pain of unsolved murders. Shot four times with a .25 caliber pistol, the nature of his death suggests a brutal and deliberate act, an overkill that has haunted his family for decades. Despite having his identification in his wallet, the question remains: who committed this heinous crime and why?
The details surrounding Carr’s disappearance and death are unsettling. He was scheduled to appear in court on June 13th, 1988, but never arrived, prompting a capias warrant for his arrest. The last confirmed sighting of Carr was on June 22nd, when a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy encountered him in a grocery store parking lot. A routine warrant check inexplicably came back clean, allowing Carr to walk free, a missed opportunity that still raises questions.
Adding to the mystery, initial reports indicated five gunshot wounds, but the autopsy revealed four bullets were recovered: one lodged in his head, another in his neck/jaw and two in his chest, one piercing his heart. This discrepancy further complicates the investigation.
For Carr’s family, the quest for justice has been a long and arduous journey. His daughter, Tabitha, only ten years old when her father was murdered, continues to seek answers. In 2005, investigator Tommy Thompson reopened the case, breathing new life into the investigation, yet the mystery persists.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Jason Lawson’s office are asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
The passage of time has not diminished their resolve to bring closure to the Carr family. Someone knows what happened to Charles Edward Carr Jr., and it’s time to bring his killer to justice.
If you have any information regarding the murder of Charles Edward Carr Jr., please contact the Jackson County, TN Sheriff’s Office at 931-268-6226 or District Attorney Ja
