Man, woman arrested in connection to 2022 murder

UPDATE (4/30/24): Records available online indicate Molly Hawkins bonded out of custody on April 29. At this time, Ethan Hillis remains in custody at the McNairy County jail.

UPDATE (4/12/24): McNairy County court staff confirms the case has been bound over to the grand jury. If indicted, Hillis and Hawkins will appear in court on June 17, 2024.

UPDATE (4/7/24): Another arrest made in connection to homicide

MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. — A separate arrest has been made in connection to the murder of Johnny Harbin. Sherriff Guy Buck shared a press release containing the woman’s name.

PRESS RELEASE FROM MCNAIRY SHERRIF’S DEPARTMENT:

Late in the evening of December 2, 2022 the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office responded to a homicide outside of Adamsville, TN on Pickens Rd. The victim, Johnny Harbin, was shot in the back as he arrived home with what we believed to be a large caliber rifle. Mr. Harbin died from the injuries sustained from the gunshot and the long investigation until the arrest on March 6, 2024 began. 

The McNairy County Sheriff’s Office has worked tirelessly and have used every police technique available to work this case on a daily basis. I can assure the family and friends that we have left no stone unturned and I can without reservation say that more man hours have been worked in this case than any case in my law enforcement career.

We appreciate the help of the public and every agency that assisted with this investigation, whether it was technology, forensic or simple manpower, we could not have got to this point without everyone’s help. 

In the end this case came down to old fashion police work and dedicated investigators that refused to let this crime go cold. We have the parties responsible in custody. This was a premeditated murder that I am confident with the evidence that has been compiled will result in a successful prosecution of all parties involved.

The McNairy County Sheriff’s Office has charged 26-year-old Ethan Hillis with First Degree Murder and a 27-year-old Molly Hawkins with First Degree Murder. While arrests have been made, this investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office at 731-645-1004.

EARLIER STORY:

MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn.–A murder in one West Tennessee county leads police to make an arrest.

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News first brought you this story on December 3, 2022.
That same day McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck confirmed a shooting took place outside of Adamsville that left Johnny Harbin, 57, dead.

Wednesday evening, Sheriff Buck confirmed they arrested Ethan Hillis, 26 in connection with that murder.
Hillis has been charged with first degree murder and is currently being held in the McNairy County Jail.

This investigation is active and Sheriff Buck says he will have more information to release Thursday.