Corbin Police arrest Knoxville murder suspect

A report about vehicle in a Corbin ditch Thursday night lead to the arrest of a Knoxville murder suspect, according to a Corbin Police Department release.

Michael Merrick

Patrolman Dorman Patrick Jr. responded to the report of the vehicle in a ditch and determined that the operator of the vehicle was allegedly under the influence and placed him under arrest, the release stated.

“It was later discovered that this individual was wanted as a suspect in a murder that occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee. The out-of-state warrant was served at the Whitley County Detention Center,” according to the release.

Michael Merrick, 49, of Knoxville, was booked into the Whitley County Detention Center at 10:50 p.m. Thursday, according to the detention center’s website.

He was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and served with the fugitive warrant.

As of Friday, no arraignment date had been scheduled for Merrick in Whitley District Court.

Sgt. Jeff Hill and Cpl. Brad Prewitt assisted at the scene.

Knoxville case

About 9:30 p.m. Thursday, the Knoxville Police Department responded to an apartment at 3210 Atchley Ridge Way in regards to a deceased person. Officers arrived at the scene and found a woman dead inside the apartment, who had been shot multiple times, according to a Knoxville Police Department release.

About noon Friday, Knoxville Police announced that homicide detectives had obtained a warrant charging Merrick with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 49-year-old Nicole Fanney.

The shooting is believed to be domestic in nature.

Merrick allegedly left the scene prior to the arrival of officers, and will soon be extradited back to Knoxville, the release stated.