76-Year-Old Tennessee Man Charged with Killing Wife over Church Tithe Money

A Tennessee man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing his wife over a church tithing argument. 

Reuters reports Norman McKinney, 76, shot his wife Mae McKinney on Sunday (Aug. 30). McKinney had accused his wife of stealing and hiding a collection of money he had earmarked for tithing. 

Police found Mae McKinney alive in the couple’s bedroom, suffering from a head wound. She died the following day at the hospital. 

Unicoi County investigator Ronnie Adkins said that officers searched the house but did not find the hidden money. 

Adkins said, "It's a sad situation for all concerned, especially the families. He's incarcerated and she's lost her life and then the families are left with grief and pain to deal with."

McKinney is being held at the Unicoi County Jail on a $300,000 bond. 

Publication date: September 1, 2015