An Etowah man charged with the March murder of a Madisonville woman has been indicted by the Monroe County grand jury.

Kenneth Erick Waldrop, 20, County Road 498, Etowah, was arrested March 5 by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office after he led them to a car that contained the body of Renee Roissier Miller, 50. Miller was found in her Chrysler just outside of Etowah in an area known for 4-wheeling. She had been shot and a spent casing was found inside the car.

A warrant filed by Monroe County Sheriff's Detective Mike Morgan states Waldrop began to assault Miller at her home on Campground Road and continued the assault on the road, ultimately escalating in her shooting death.

Authorities began a search for Miller after a Loudon County officer, who knew Miller's family, was contacted by her husband. The husband told the officer he hadn't heard from his wife and was concerned.

Morgan was contacted and it was soon learned Miller was seen with Waldrop earlier in the day. Waldrop was contacted by authorities and after talking with them, Waldrop led them to Miller's body.
Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens said Waldrop confessed to the crime, but authorities aren't sure of the reason for the killing.

"He hasn't really said why he did this," Bivens said at the time of the arrest. "He's told us a lot of things, and we're trying to sort them all out. It's like a puzzle, trying to put it all together."
Bivens said it appeared someone came to pick up Waldrop after the shooting.
"We have evidence pointing in that direction," he said. "Where he left the victim is close to his home, and he could have walked to his house, but we're beginning to think he got a ride. But we can't say yet whether or not this person knew what he was doing."

Waldrop will be arraigned in Monroe County Criminal Court Monday.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat. com | 442-4575