4 year-old cold case sees new arrest in Gibson County

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Officers arrested a man Monday on a murder charge in a 2012 cold case in Humboldt.

Benjamin Byrer

Benjamin Byrer, 34, of Humboldt is charged with second-degree murder in the 2012 death of 49-year-old James Patrick Calene, according to a release from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for so long,” Calene’s fiancee, Natalie Davis said. “I’m just completely ecstatic, just thankful.”

Deputies responded March 31, 2012, to a call about an unresponsive man in a house located in the 100 block of Jim Jackson Road in Humboldt, according to the release.

The victim was identified as Calene, and the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as

strangulation.

Investigators developed some leads at the time and interviewed multiple people, but the case went cold, the release states.

James Calene

During recent moths, investigators with the sheriff’s office and the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force developed new information that led to Byrer’s arrest.

“Mr. Calene and Mr. Byrer were there alone and for whatever reason we think it went south and ended in his death,” Sheriff Paul Thomas said.

Byrer is being held at the Gibson County Correctional Complex. A bond amount and court date have not been set at this time.

“The District Attorney I think made the right call at the time to not prosecute because he wanted to make sure he could convict,” Sheriff Thomas said. “Now with this new evidence that’s come to light he’s very confident he can get a conviction on it.”