WALLAND, Tenn. — A Walland man has been charged with multiple counts of criminal homicide following the discovery of three bodies in a house fire in Blount County. Johnny Ray Wilburn, 56, was arrested and is currently being held on a $750,000 bond. He is set to appear in court on January 27.
The bodies of the victims, identified as Delmar Marty Farley, 59, Cas Ivan Farley, 61, and Norma Kay Farley, 65, were recovered from the residence on Payne Hollow Road. Authorities say the victims all lived in the home where the fire occurred.
Blount County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, Captain Lisa Berrong, confirmed in a statement that autopsies were performed on the victims at the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. Preliminary findings indicate that all three individuals died as a result of homicide, although the exact cause of death is still being investigated.
The investigation remains ongoing, and law enforcement officials have not yet released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the fire or the charges against Wilburn. As the case continues to develop, authorities say further information will be made available to the public.
At this time, there has been no indication of a possible motive for the killings, and Wilburn’s connection to the victims is still being examined by investigators.
This case remains under investigation by the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and other law enforcement agencies.
