Over 24 law enforcement agencies are continuing the manhunt for Kirby Wallace, who is wanted in connection to two murders and a home invasion in Montgomery and Stewart counties. Law enforcement continued the search overnight but still have not been able to locate Wallace.
At a news conference at Blooming Grove Baptist Church in Woodlawn Tuesday morning, which was carried live by WTVF-Channel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations spokeswoman Susan Niland says they do not have any reason to believe Wallace is still not in the search area, but she adds the terrain is very challenging.
She notes there are ten TBI agents on the ground Tuesday.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Lt. Bill Miller says they are committed to locating and apprehending Wallace and they have 50 troopers on the ground, along with helicopters flying over the search area.
Stewart County Sheriff Frankie Gray says they are going to continue to respond to all calls, suspicious vehicles and clearing building and structures in the search area.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s spokesman Sandra Brandon says they have received over 100 tips and are conducting a grid search. She adds the reward is now $7,500.
Officials at Stewart and Montgomery County Schools also said they are taking every precaution necessary to keep students safe getting on and off of buses and at schools, including two elementary schools in Stewart County are in soft lockdown. Stewart County Director of Schools Leta Joiner says they believe children are safer in school than at home.
In addition to the homicide on Welker Road Monday morning, Wallace is wanted in connection to the murder of a 63-year old woman and injuring her husband at their Indian Mound home on Rorie Hollow Road in Stewart County, which he set on fire before he fled in their vehicle. Police said Wallace is also wanted for a home invasion on River Road in Montgomery County where he held a woman in her 80s at knifepoint, then tied her to her bed and fled the scene in her vehicle. Both crimes occurred Sunday, September 23.
On Saturday, Wallace was added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Top Ten Most Wanted list.
Meanwhile, Hopkinsville Police are encouraging all citizens to be on the lookout for Wallace. Public Information Officer Lt. Kyle Spurlin says they want to help spread the information about Kirby because of the close proximity to Hopkinsville and Christian County. He notes they have spoken with officials from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and they believe that Kirby is still around their area. However, Lt. Spurlin adds they want to make local citizens are aware of the ongoing situation and that they call police should they see anything suspicious. Anyone seeing something suspicious should immediately report it to police by calling 911.
