Murder, arson charges filed

Nov. 10– Badly burned, it first appeared 51-year-old Gary Cole had died in the Nov. 3 fire which engulfed his doublewide mobile home on Hardin’s Graveyard Road.

This morning, McNairy County Sheriff Ricky Roten said an autopsy showed Cole–identified by dental records–had been killed by a bullet to the back of the head.

The victim’s wife, Melissa Cole, 41, is facing charges of first degree murder, arson and tampering with evidence. She remained held at the McNairy County Justice Complex in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

Their 9-year-old son has been placed with family.

For more details, see the upcoming print edition of The Courier.