DeKalb County’s Dustin Estes Obtains Administrator of Elections Certification

January 8, 2024
By:

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and State Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins recently recognized DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes for passing the Administrator of Elections Certification Exam.

“Congratulations to Dustin Estes on this achievement,” said Secretary Hargett. “Dustin’s strong desire to meet the highest of standards shows he is committed to effectively serving DeKalb County.”

Administered by the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections in Nashville, the exam is held at least once yearly. This rigorous written assessment contains questions based on statutory requirements, ranging from voter registration to Election Day guidelines.

“Dustin’s hard work and his successful completion of this exam prepare him well to serve,” Goins said. “I appreciate his dedication to ensuring DeKalb County elections are secure, accurate, and trustworthy.”

Before taking the certification exam, election administrators must complete a training process covering 40 different topics related to election law. By passing the exam, these election administrators demonstrate they have the knowledge and training to successfully administer election laws in their respective communities. Tennessee is currently ranked number one in the nation for election integrity by the Heritage Foundation.

“It is important to give confidence to the public that our office complies with Tennessee election laws,” said Estes. “I look forward to working with the Secretary of State’s office and our local election officials to ensure fair and free elections.”

For more information about Tennessee elections, please visit GoVoteTN.gov or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

January 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A Nashville man accused of murdering his wife and burying her body in a freshly dug grave on his property in the Belk Community of DeKalb County has been charged in her death. In addition to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the TBI, District Attorney General’s Office (13th District), and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department are involved in the investigation.

70-year-old Joseph Michael Glynn was booked into the Metro Jail shortly before 3 a.m. today (Saturday, January 6) charged with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. He remains in custody on a $1,030,000 bond.

Authorities reported the charges stem from an incident that took place on New Year’s Day where Glynn allegedly admitted to striking 76-year-old Jackie Glynn in the head with a hammer.

After the attack, officials said Glynn brought her body to DeKalb County and buried her. While in DeKalb County, Glynn also hid and towed the victim’s Toyota Rav 4, according to an arrest report.

Law enforcement found the victim buried in DeKalb County on Friday, January 5. Glynn allegedly told officers that he threw the murder weapon in the trash.

In addition to disposing of the murder weapon, Glynn also admitted to officers that he sold some of the victim’s belongings to several individuals after the murder, authorities said.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, the Glynn’s primary residence is at 2418 Abbott Martin Road, Nashville and that is where the murder of Jackie Glynn is believed to have occurred on New Year’s Day. Two years ago the Glynn’s purchased, in Jackie’s name, 6.99 acres at 4629 Allen Bend Road in the Belk Community. Although there is no house on the property, the Glynn’s were believed to have stayed in a camper trailer when in DeKalb County. Sheriff Ray said Mr. Glynn had contacted a local realtor as late as Thursday, January 4 wanting to list the property for sale but the realtor was out of town and couldn’t meet with him at that time.

After Ms. Glynn was reported missing by family members this week, Metro Police had a TBI Silver Alert issued asking for the public’s help in locating her especially since she had a medical condition that might have impaired her ability to return safely without assistance. The alert stated that Ms Glynn might be driving a 2010 Toyota RAV4.

On Friday, Sheriff Ray said Metro Police contacted his department asking them to do a welfare check at the Glynn property on Allen Bend Road after learning from Mr. Glynn during a police interview that he had property in DeKalb County and that he had been there on Friday morning conducting a bon fire. Later during the investigation, Glynn confessed to the crime.

When DeKalb County officers arrived, Sheriff Ray said they met Jackie’s son who was also there looking for his mother, not knowing what had happened. They also spoke to a neighbor who had reported having spotted a freshly dug hole on the property earlier but that in recent days she noticed that the hole had been filled.

“We went onto the property and found what we thought to be a burial site. We found out that the hole was dug on December 16 by a contractor who had been told by Mr. Glynn that he wanted the hole for a burn pit. The hole was six feet wide, ten feet long, and six feet deep,” said Sheriff Ray.

“We called TBI and the office of the District Attorney General. DA Bryant Dunaway and DA Criminal Investigator Chris Isom joined us at the scene along with TBI agents and two detectives from Metro,” Sheriff Ray explained.

“Our deputies dug down and found Ms Glynn’s body inside a plastic vehicle cargo box. It was in the bottom of the grave with brand new roofing shingles piled on it nearly to the top of the ground and all of that covered with dirt. After the county medical examiner came to the scene, the body was removed and taken to Nashville for an autopsy.

“We learned that Ms. Glynn’s vehicle was in the Belk area and we found it on Barnes Mill Road. We also learned that the murder weapon was a hammer and that Glynn had thrown it in the Keltonburg Community Center compactor on Tuesday.”

No local charges have yet been filed against Glynn, but Sheriff Ray said the investigation is ongoing.

Nashville media is reporting that Jackie Glynn was the owner or former owner of a popular Nashville wedding venue “Riverwood Mansion”.

January 6, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

U.S. Representative John Rose’s (TN-6) district staff member Lou Nave will be in Smithville for a local office hour this month for constituents to connect directly with caseworkers and receive assistance with federal agencies.

During the local office hour, on Tuesday, January 16 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Ernest Ray Education Center at 110 South Public Square Smithville, Nave will be available to answer questions and assist you with federal casework, such as social security and veterans’ benefits, steps for obtaining a passport, and more. The local office hour visit occurs monthly. If you have questions, please contact one of Representative Rose’s offices so a staff member may help you.

“We are ready to assist constituents with federal casework and welcome anyone with questions to sit down with staff,” said Representative Rose. “My goal is to make the expertise of my staff and the resources of this office easily accessible to every person I represent.”