Tennessee man kills wife on New Year's Day with hammer, buries her body, police say

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee man was booked into jail Saturday morning after his missing wife was found buried in DeKalb County.

Joseph Glynn, 70, is jailed on criminal homicide for the death of his wife, 76-year-old Jackie Glynn, on New Year's Day, according to Metro Nashville police. On Friday, her body was dug up on family property in Smithville, more than an hour and a half southeast of Nashville.

A Silver Alert had been issued Friday afternoon for Jackie.

The preliminary police investigation shows that Joseph Glynn hit Jackie Glynn on the head with a hammer inside their Green Hills home, and he drove the next day and buried her. Police say he made admissions.

Joseph Glynn allegedly told his wife's children that she had decided to leave because she was terminally ill, police said. They became inquisitive when her medical provider said that was not true, and due to other inconsistencies in statements made by Joseph.

Police found her car in DeKalb County, which police say Joseph Glynn towed and hid.

The hammer reportedly used to kill Jackie Glynn hasn't been found. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office said he threw it in the Keltonburg Community Center.

The DCSO said they found Jackie Glynn's body in a grave 6 feet wide, 10 feet long and 6 feet deep. They said a contractor dug the hole on December 16 by the request of Joseph for a burn pit.

Joseph Glynn is in the Davidson County Jail on $1,030,000 bond. He also faces charges of abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering. His first scheduled court date is Tuesday morning.

No charges have been filed by the DCSO at this time as the investigation continues.