Reward Offered, Suspect Indicted in Bluff City Stabbing Death

UPDATE: 3 p.m.

The man earlier named by police as a person of interest in the September death of a Bluff City man has been indicted in the case, Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson announced today.

Bristol Herald Courier reporter Gary Gray says police are still searching for Abrey Wayne Fortner, 31, of Chesapeake, Va., who was indicted Wednesday on a charge of first-degree by a Sullivan County grand jury.  Fortner, who has family in the area, is still believed to be in the region. He is considered armed and dangerous and should only be approached by law enforcement officers, the sheriff said during an afternoon news conference.

The body of Arthur T. Burchard, 41, was discovered by police after a family member reported a foul smell coming from his apartment. Anderson said today that an autopsy revealed his throat had been cut.

News Channel 11’s Darius Radzius is also covering this story.  He reports that the U.S. Marshals Service and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are now offering a reward for Fortner’s arrest.  Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson described the suspect at Thursday’s news conference as a 31-year old white male, six foot tall, and 270 pounds.  He also goes by Brandon Lawson, but the sheriff says it’s likely he changed his name again.

In describing the suspect Anderson said,“He is dangerous and we need the public’s help in finding this man.  He’s a very, very dangerous individual and he’s proven that in this case.”

Anderson says Fortner served 10-years in a Virginia prison for malicious wounding.  He is also wanted out of Chesapeake, Virginia and Smithville, Virginia for violation of probation, kidnapping, and malicious wounding in which Anderson said he used a sharp object, possibly a knife.

Anderson also said Fortner’s been charged with numerous violent crimes, such as burglary and theft.  The motive?  Investigators think the victim owed Fortner money.

U.S. Marshals Service is offering $2,000 and a $1,000 from the TBI, equaling to a total of $3,000 for information leading to Fortner’s arrest.

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The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and Bluff City Police will hold a press conference about possible new developments in a September 7th homicide case.

Police say Arthur Burchard was stabbed to death in his Bluff City Highway apartment. 

Deputies say he was stabbed several times and they’ve yet to arrest anyone in connection to his murder.

However,  police identified a person of interest in the case.
The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office wants to talk to Abrey Wayne Fortner about Burchard’s murder.

Police say Fortner is also known as Brandon Lawson or “Buster.“

Your Tri-Cities News Source will have a crew at the press conference this afternoon. We’ll bring you the latest information here on Tricities.com and tonight on News Channel 11 at 5.