Roane County Man Sentenced for 2022 Double Homicide, DA Says

Lonnie Dale Wright (Courtesy: Roane County Sheriff's Office)

Roane County Man Sentenced for 2022 Double Homicide, DA Says

Roane County, TN (WOKI) A Roane County man is facing 33 years in jail for his role in a double murder two years ago.

According to District Attorney General Russell Johnson’s office, Lonnie Dale Wright, of Harriman, was sentenced Wednesday to the murders of Steve Groover and Cindy Scruggs in May of 2022.

Groover and Scruggs were found dead in their Kingston home on Buck Creek Road.

Officials with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office say after Wright was arrested in July 2022 that he was suspected of unlawfully breaking into the home and murdering both Groover and Scruggs.

On Wednesday, Roane County Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks agreed with the District Attorney’s request to give Wright the maximum number of years with his sentence. Additionally, DA Russell Johnson said the judge gave Wright three six-year sentences consecutively with the maximum of 15 years on the attempted robbery conviction.

Johnson added that Wright has been in jail since his arrest and will receive credit for time served.

Lonnie Dale Wright (Courtesy: Roane County Sheriff’s Office)