MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: Maryville Police said Billy Wayne Herron's last name is spelled Herron. The Daily Times spelled it Hearon in articles that appeared in the newspaper in 1985.
It's been nearly 40 years since 28-year-old Billy Wayne Herron was found dead at a Maryville trailer park, but the FBI might be able to shed new light on the case.
Maryville Police Detective Arthur King is assigned to Herron's case and said he sent the FBI evidence from the 1985 crime scene in 2023.
"Forensics have gotten much better since 1985," King said. "We submitted things we tested back then, and we may get better results now with technology being enhanced like it's been."
10News visited the Blount County Library to find older editions of Blount County's newspaper, The Daily Times, to learn more information on the case.
According to the Jan 7, 1985 edition of the Maryville Daily Times, Maryville Police had suspects in mind who they thought were responsible for his killing shortly after he died.
Herron was killed on Jan. 4, 1985, but his body wasn't found until the following morning at the Shady Acres Trailer Park, off Foch Road in Maryville.
"Police found Herron after they received a phone call saying there was a body laying in a pool of blood at the trailer park," the Daily Times article said.
Then Maryville Police Chief Don Boring told the newspaper that Herron was a father and disabled veteran who was last seen at around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, 1985.
Officers said Herron had been dead for hours before his body was found. His body was found in the back bedroom of his trailer, located on Lot 27 at the mobile home park.
"He apparently died from the loss of blood resulting from insurmountable stab wounds," The Daily Times reported.
Chief Boring told the paper that Herron had been bludgeoned in addition to being stabbed.
The Daily Times reported on Jan. 8, 1985, that no arrests had been made in the "baffling" killing of Herron. Chief Boring said several people had been questioned by Jan. 8 and others would be questioned as the investigation continues.
"There's still suspects to this day that we're evaluating and looking into," King said. "The motive in that case may have been robbery, but again we're looking into that matter as well. It's a cold case, but it's also an active investigation. We submitted many pieces of evidence to the FBI last year, and we are waiting to get results."
Herron's case is one of two Maryville murders that haven't been solved.
Maryville's other unsolved murder is the case of shop owner Helen Mills. Mills was found dead inside an herb shop she owned in September 2002.
Last fall, Maryville Police arrested 80-year-old Michael Fine who was later indicted on murder charges in the 1977 murders of his parents Maynard and Helen Fine. At that point in time, the Fine case was Maryville's oldest unsolved crime.
Anyone with tips in the case can contact the Maryville Police Department on its website or by phone at (865) 380-1388.