Brian Colby Davenport, 47 of Ringgold, was arrested by Catoosa County authorities and charged with murdering his fiancé. Reports said that Davenport shot and killed Deborah Lynn Abney, 46 of Ringgold, on Friday, March 11 while they on a secluded area of Taylor’s Ridge Road. Reports added that he then staged the murder scene.

Davenport told authorities that he thought his fiancé had committed suicide while they were having an outdoor dinner. He added that the couple had been in court for most of the day and that the Department of Family and Children Services had taken their children and placed them in foster care.

He told them that Abney was extremely upset about the situation and was began drinking alcohol. He then went on to say, “that approximately 20 minutes after arriving, he went to the trunk of his vehicle to change his shirt….. He said he was wearing a white shirt and did not want to get food on it. He advised that while he was at the trunk, he heard a gunshot and discovered that Ms. Abney had shot herself in the head with his .38-caliber revolver that was in his glove box.”

He said that he “freaked out” when Abney shot herself and started to walk down the road. He then proceeded to call his mother, who was the property owner in which the shooting occurred. Only calling 911 a short time later.

Authorities said that while interviewing Davenport conflicting stories were then given. According to captain Chris Lyons, “We realized that the scene appeared to have been staged. Ultimately, Mr. Davenport later admitted to us that he had placed the gun in Ms. Abney’s hand after the shooting had occurred.”

An autopsy was performed and results showed that Abney was shot in the back of the head.

Davenport is charged with murder, tampering with evidence, two counts of giving false statements, and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.

(Coosa Valley News)