JOINT INVESTIGATION YIELDS CHARGES IN DEADLY ROBBERY AND ARSON AT PAWN SHOP

JOINT INVESTIGATION YIELDS CHARGES IN DEADLY ROBBERY AND ARSON AT PAWN SHOP

CHATTANOOGA – Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, working with investigators from the Whitwell Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office, have obtained indictments for a woman accused of robbing a pawn shop, killing its owner, and setting fire to the business in an effort to cover up the crime.

At the request of 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor, TBI Special Agents joined the investigation into a fire at Valley Pawn Brokers on Highway 28 in Whitwell on May 17th, shortly after authorities discovered the body of a man later identified as 72-year-old Jerry Don Ridge, who owned the business. During the course of the case, investigators developed information that led to Angela Denise Kilgore as the individual responsible for Ridge’s death during a robbery at the pawn shop. The investigation further revealed she was additionally responsible for the subsequent fire at the business, set in an effort to destroy potential evidence in the case.

On Monday, the Marion County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging the 51-year-old woman with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of Felony Murder, one count of Especially Aggravated Robbery, one count of Employing a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, one count of Aggravated Arson, one count of Theft, and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. At the time of this release, she remained in the custody of the Marion County Jail.