Media

Deputies Charge Millington Area Man For Murdering His Mother

Release Date: July 25, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Detectives believe an elderly woman found dead at her home was killed by her son.

Investigators with the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office say Opal Brunner, 82, was apparently strangled to death at her home at 6884 Commander Road in North-East Shelby County.

Deputies were called to the home just after 8:00 this morning by John Brunner, 54, Ms. Brunner’s son, who lives in a guest house behind her home. Brunner told the officers he found his mother dead in the backyard.

Initially investigators believed Brunner’s mother choked on some food. However, autopsy results released this evening indicated the elderly lady was strangled.

Minutes after informing her son of the autopsy findings, John Brunner admitted to Sheriff’s detectives he strangled his mother last night after the two got into an argument.

Brunner has been charged with First Degree Murder and is being held at the Shelby County Jail without bond.

So far this year, three people have been killed in the areas patrolled by Sheriff’s Deputies.

Deputies investigated five murders during 2005.