Trial Docket: July 8
LISA HOBBS
News Editor
A man accused of first-degree murder has a jury trial scheduled for May 3-7, 2027.
David Zeb Alexander was in court last week for a change of counsel. Circuit Court Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr. approved a motion that allowed attorney Alexandria Smart to withdraw from the case. Appointed to represent Alexander was attorney Amanda J. Gentry.
Alexander, 55, was charged with first degree murder in the March 2025 death of 56-year-old Bruce Allen Morton. He also stands accused of tampering with evidence x7, thief, vandalism, abuse of a corpse, and violation of order of protection. His co-defendant, Nina Jean Judkins, 47, was charged with first degree murder, tampering with evidence x7, thief, vandalism, abuse of a corpse and aggravated arson. She is represented by Attorney Thomas J. Miner.
According to a press release by former District Attorney General Chris Stanford, Warren County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched on March 14, 2025, to a location on Holcomb Road to investigate a call regarding a homicide.
According to the caller, Judkins and Alexander (also known as Day-Day) confessed to them that they had killed Morton. The caller indicated that following the murder, Judkins and Alexander admitted to moving the deceased body of Morton and hid his body under a mattress.
Upon arriving at the Holcomb Road address, deputies located a camper on the property that belonged to Morton. Deputies did located Morton’s remains under a mattress. Upon removing it, they found a piece of wood and a blanket on top of Morton’s body.
According to Stanford, Judkins was mirandized by WCSO deputies and provided a full confession implicating herself and Alexander in the homicide.
Judkins and Alexander are being held at the Warren County Jail, with each defendant’s bail being set at $1.6 million.
Also, on the July 8 docket and having their cases resolved:
Junior Dale Brewer II had his probation revoked and must serve the remainder of his sentence for violating his community control.
Jerry Dewayne Forsyth was sentenced to one year’s Tennessee Department of Corrections probation for violation of the sex offender’s registry. He must serve 90 days, pay $350 and court costs.
Edward Ray Lowery Jr must serve 60 days and return to probation for violating community control.
Courtney Demetrius Martin must 60 days and return to probation for violating community control.
Jasmine Davenport was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days probation for possession of methamphetamine. She must serve 60 days, undergo alcohol and drug assessment, pay $750 and court costs, and be placed on an ankle monitor for 30 days after release. For a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, she was fined $150.
Alysia Lashaye Cervantes Grove was sentenced to 11-29 on probation for domestic assault. To run consecutively, is a sentence of 11-29 probation for abuse of elderly adult. To run concurrently, is a sentence of six-months’ probation for resisting arrest.
Richard Charles Holubek Jr. was sentenced to 30 days for violating sexual offender registration requirements.
Dillon Gage King was sentenced to 11-29 probation for theft. He must pay $249 in restitution and pay court costs. To run concurrently, King was sentenced to 11-29 probation for theft. He was ordered to pay $250 restitution.
Jonathon Matthew Whiteaker was sentenced to 11-29 probation for aggravated 911 calls in non-emergency situations. He must serve 30 days and pay $50 plus court costs. To run concurrently, he was sentenced to three years of TDOC probation for making false reports.
Judge Stanley issued a warrant for the arrest of Jeffery Everett Johnson for failure to appear. He was slated to be in court on Wednesday on allegations that he violated probation, was in possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and was in possession of methamphetamine.