Jackson man charged with first-degree murder after woman found dead during welfare check

JACKSON, Tenn. — On March 8, 2026, at approximately 6:45 a.m., officers with the Jackson Police Department responded to a residence at 103 Alexander St. to conduct a welfare check. The caller, later identified as Montre Johnson, reported an unconscious female at the home.

When officers arrived, they found the front door open and discovered that Johnson had already fled the scene.

Officers and EMS personnel arrived on scene and located Michelle Lynn Lee, a 58-year-old female, deceased in the living room of the residence. The Department’s Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene.

During the initial investigation, Ms. Lee was observed to have visible bruising on her body.

Ms. Lee was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Nashville for an autopsy. Preliminary findings indicate the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and strangulation.

Investigators with the Special Victims Unit developed Montre Johnson, a 32-year-old male and the victim’s boyfriend, as a suspect in the case. Witnesses gave statements indicating that the defendant admitted to killing the victim by beating and suffocating her.

On March 10, 2026, investigators interviewed Johnson, after which he was taken into custody and charged with First Degree Murder. Johnson is scheduled to be formally arraigned in Jackson City Court on Thursday morning.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 731-425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 731-424-8477.

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