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Graphic images of a sheriff's deputy and his friend who were killed in a shootout are seen posted by brothers Rocky Joe and Leon Houston near Kingston, Tenn., on Thursday. Roane County Deputy Bill Jones and ride-along Mike Brown were fatally shot on May 11, 2006, after they went to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Rocky Houston. The brothers were not convicted. / Saul Young / Knoxville News Sentinel / Associated |
KINGSTON, TENN. — Roane County brothers who killed a sheriff’s deputy and his friend in a shootout have posted photos of the men’s bullet-riddled bodies on a large homemade sign on their property.
Rocky Joe Houston told The Knoxville News Sentinel that he and his brother Leon want the world to remember what happened the last time unwelcome visitors showed up at the family farm.
The photos are posted next to the road. Authorities called the posting despicable but said it was not a crime.
“It goes without saying that any public display on their own property of these photos in whatever manner by the Houstons is despicable and certainly runs counter to the Houstons’ claims of innocence,” District Attorney General Russell Johnson said in a news release.
Roane County Deputy Bill Jones and ride-along Mike Brown died May 11, 2006, after they went to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Rocky Houston.
The brothers insisted in court the men came to kill them. Prosecutors were unable to prove who shot first and the brothers were never convicted.
The brothers obtained the crime scene photos during their trials. The large sign where the photos are posted is one of at least a half dozen signs on their property that contain various court documents and claims of government corruption and conspiracy.
The crime scene photos were posted briefly on a Kingston woman’s Facebook page, apparently after she took a picture of the signs.
Johnson said he asked Facebook to remove the photos and was initially refused, but by late Thursday they had been taken down.
Johnson said he contacted the Jones and Brown families so that they would know about the situation. The newspaper could not reach the families.
Rocky Houston said the signs won’t come down.
“We are trying to report federal crimes, and we feel like our plea has fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
Rocky Joe Houston told The Knoxville News Sentinel that he and his brother Leon want the world to remember what happened the last time unwelcome visitors showed up at the family farm.
The photos are posted next to the road. Authorities called the posting despicable but said it was not a crime.
“It goes without saying that any public display on their own property of these photos in whatever manner by the Houstons is despicable and certainly runs counter to the Houstons’ claims of innocence,” District Attorney General Russell Johnson said in a news release.
Roane County Deputy Bill Jones and ride-along Mike Brown died May 11, 2006, after they went to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Rocky Houston.
The brothers insisted in court the men came to kill them. Prosecutors were unable to prove who shot first and the brothers were never convicted.
The brothers obtained the crime scene photos during their trials. The large sign where the photos are posted is one of at least a half dozen signs on their property that contain various court documents and claims of government corruption and conspiracy.
The crime scene photos were posted briefly on a Kingston woman’s Facebook page, apparently after she took a picture of the signs.
Johnson said he asked Facebook to remove the photos and was initially refused, but by late Thursday they had been taken down.
Johnson said he contacted the Jones and Brown families so that they would know about the situation. The newspaper could not reach the families.
Rocky Houston said the signs won’t come down.
“We are trying to report federal crimes, and we feel like our plea has fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
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