Six-Year Murder Investigation in Johnson City Leads to Arrest
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Six-Year Murder Investigation in Johnson City...
Six-Year Murder Investigation in Johnson City Leads to Arrest
Courtesy: Washington County Detention Center
Dale Keith Larkin
* Please note this is now the correct photo - the wrong photo of another man, named Larkins, was mistakenly posted for a short time.
Johnson City Police officers have arrested one man on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and insurance fraud.
This morning, officers arrested Dale Keith Larkin, #2 Wayland Court, Johnson City.
The arrest stems from a six-year investigation into the death of Larkin’s wife, Teresa “Teri” Larkin, who was found unresponsive at their home in November of 2003.
The home where the Larkin’s lived together, on Wayland Court, is a high-income neighborhood and, before her death, Teri Larkin was a pharmaceutical sales representative.
According to police, Dale Larkin is unemployed. However, his brother, Dr. Donald Larkin, says that Dale manages a real estate business.
At a press conference held today, police released that information as well as information about life insurance policies taken out by Dale Larkin on Teri Larkin. In the two years before her death, police say that four separate insurance policies, totaling $1 million, were taken out on Teri.
Dale Larkin has since collected most or all of the money from those policies, despite a three-year waiting period and an investigation by the insurance companies.
At the time Teri Larkin was found by her daughter, emergency crews were called to the scene – but police were not called.
Larkin’s body was removed from the home, where she was found in a bathtub. An autopsy was performed soon after, and at that time police were called.
Police say that Dale Larkin was a suspect from the beginning of their investigation – since he admitted to being home at the time. However, since they were not able to conduct a search of the crime scene in time and the first autopsy was inconclusive, no evidence was found.
In March 2009 police say they were able to exhume Teri Larkin’s body from the grave and a second autopsy was performed in Knoxville. The results of that autopsy provided police with more evidence as to how she died.
The autopsy showed she died from suffocation and blunt force trauma was found all over her body. She also had some broken bones. All of this evidence pointed to murder, according to police.
Larkin is currently being held without bond in the Washington County Detention Center and will appear in court tomorrow morning.
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Several years ago I knew a young man who was a High School friend of my oldest son. He spent many days and nights at our house as a teen. He was a good student and although he did not graduate he did have a good job, his own apartment and a girlfriend he was crazy about. He was arrested for murder and I felt exactly as most of you do here. Not HIM….he was such a quite, sweet boy. Always polite and respectful to others and would go out of his way to help his neighbor or a friend. I believed in him right up to the DNA evidence shown in court. His fingerprints were also found in the house of the eighty year old woman he raped and murdered. He is now serving two life terms. I don’t know if Dale Larkin is guilty or innocent but I learned a lesson from the true story I am telling here. You never know what lurks in the heart or head of any human.
Evidence(proof) speaks for itself
First I have to say that I was floored when I heard the news about Dale’s arrest. Second I have known Dale Larkin for 54 years….we grew up together and he was like a brother to me growing up. His Mother and Father were my second Mom and Dad. Dale has always been a little off center but I do not honestly believe that he would do or is capable of such a crime. People change thru life as they get older but murder I cannot and will not believe. I saw Dale and his family when my father passed away last fall and he seemed like the same guy I have always known. So….to some of you people out there that have him convicted….....back off. Who gives you the right to be judge and jury??? As far as I am concerned he is innocent until proven guilty. Guilty or not he will face the final judgement one day and will be judged accordingly.
hey 423hill ever think that dale was being so cool and caring and acting like such a nice guy to cover up the fact he insured his wife and killed her and as far as his step daughter and her family just being worried about the money? dude you don’t know sh-t
I am going to agree with (wanderer).
You ask a valid question ( pjwant ). However you left out an important option.
(pshepardoasis) already stated the business relationship, but maybe there is more.
The murder of a spouse is often related to infidelity on the part of the murderer.
Perhaps pshepardoasis is his lover and the crime was committed so that they could be together.
You must admit that it certainly sounds like he loves him.
I don’t know anyone that hits spell-check when posting to a blog, its not that formal. And (pshepardoasis) why are you in E. TN. if you are so prejudice about it anyway? I am not going to read anymore of your posts, because you are the one making a fool of yourself. And who better to know Dale than his own stepdaughter who lived with him?
pshepardoasis what are you his lawyer or his brother? you must be one or the other to defend this piece of sh-t he did it and it was probably to make money that is what he does isn’t it
You know you have struck a chord with a liberal when they start critiquing your spelling and question your schooling. Didn’t everyone think Ted Bundy was a nice guy? I’m sorry but the guy is as guilty as sin. The first time I met him I was so creeped out it was a relief when he finally left. When I learned what happened, my wife and I looked at each other and said at the same time “He did it”!! After the murder he shows up at chamber functions like nothing happened. Everyone in the room stopped talking and looked at him like they couldn’t believe he showed up. This guy deserves a public hanging and Teri’s daughter should be allowed to pull the lever!
To ( pshepardoasis )
People like you are beyond explanation! I am sure this man needs all of the friends he can get or have at this time but you need to keep in mind that there have been many, many people found guilty- beyond a doubt- that were “upstanding” citizens. Doctors, lawyers, judges, COPS and the elite. Just because you know this man so well does not make him innocent. In our great society a man is innocent until proven guilty but a 6 year investigation tells me that they have plenty of proof or they would not have charged him.
For your information I did not attend a school in Tennessee, I am a resident of Virginia, but even if had graduated from a Tennessee institution no one has the right to consider me stupid. Just because I, or any other person posting here, does not stand up to your educational requirements does not in any way make our thoughts on this matter any less relevant!....Terisdaughter does not need your sympathy or understanding in this matter. The fact that you are such a staunch supporter of a man who basically turned his back on her after her mothers MURDER puts you on top of the list of persons she can do without.
Go visit your friend (at home or behind bars) and you two can study English or Law together…....you are basically making an a—of your self on this forum. Maybe what YOU say can and will be used against him?! Looking stupid and being stupid are two different things.
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