Image Credit: TBI
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A Tennessee man accused of killing 8 Sumner County residents in what is the state’s deadliest mass killing has been found competent to stand trial after three years.
Michael Cummins, 25, was arrested in April 2019 and charged with killing his parents, uncle, a neighbor, two family friends, a 12-year-old girl, and a man who lived alone in a remote cabin. He is also accused of beating his grandmother, who was also found on the scene and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
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While the case has been set to go to trial several different times, those trials were rescheduled as Cummins underwent mental evaluations to determine whether he was fit to stand trial.
According to District Attorney Ray Whitely, medical professionals found that Cummins was fit to stand trial, which is scheduled for April 2023. He will continue to be evaluated until that court date.
On September 9, 2022, Cummins will undergo an intellectual disability hearing to decide if his mental state would make him ineligible to receive the death penalty if found guilty. If he is unable to be given the death penalty, Cummins could still receive life in prison.
Cummins has a lengthy criminal history in Sumner County, beginning in 2012 when his then-pregnant ex-girlfriend accused him of stalking and abusing her, resulting in a restraining order. In 2017, he was charged with attacking a neighbor and setting fire to her house. He reportedly told officers while he was jailed, “When I get out I’ll finish the job.”
His arrests also include theft of pain medications, drug use, and killing a turkey. Cummins also attempted suicide while in a psychiatric ward awaiting trial for attacking his aunt.
Jury selection for the trial will begin on April 3, 2023, and the first day of court will be April 5, 2023.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
2 Responses
Fit or not he should be in the electric chair when found guilty. If he knew enough to take human life he is fit enough to get the punishment. This pandering of criminals needs to stop.
I totally agree, he was of a mind to kill not just in one location. He deserves the death penalty.