There's a lady with the car up there and they don't know if she's in there or not. >> Linda? >> On a summer evening in Athens, Tennessee, officers responded to a massive [music] fire ripping through a century-old church. >> Oh, wow. Check that out. Oh, [music] I'm so sorry. That's awful. Like, it really is. Look at that. Damn. No wonder them firefighters [music] were coming from the next town over. Damn. >> Initially, it was believed to be an accident, but as firefighters fought to [music] gain control, new information from witnesses pieced together a much darker truth behind the flames, including that the church's lifelong secretary [music] had suddenly gone missing. >> This thing rolling, ain't it? God damn, look at that. This thing is rolling. Hey, when they get up here, we'll shut it down on the side. >> I don't know what it is. >> I got it. I got it. I know what I'm doing. I know what to do. >> Hey, y'all get out of the way. That's a hell of a fire, man. That's it. Oh, hey. Can we get these people back? >> Yeah. Guys, GUYS, GET BACK. GUYS, GET BACK. Get over there. Do not get close. Here. >> Come on, man. I know they can't put it out. >> There's a lady with the car up there and they don't know if she's in there or not. >> Linda? >> Hey, do you know her? >> I'm the pastor of the church. >> They said that there might be a lady in there in that white car. >> We tried to make entry and got pushed out. >> They got you. >> They say she's in there. >> I just didn't know if y'all knew that or not. >> Yeah. Well, we guess. We don't know for sure. >> They said they tried to call her, but they couldn't You can of her. >> We get another call on the line advised that they believe they seen a spark from a power line that fell on the church is what possibly started this. >> I know y'all want to see, but if you will just get on the other side of the building, okay? Let the fire handle this, okay? Come on. I know, pastor. I know, but we don't want you to get hurt, okay? All you can do right now is pray, okay? I was on the phone with people and they don't know what happened. They just saw it. >> I said something about power line. >> And then they also said that where that's at, that's also the kitchen. >> We need y'all to stay back here, please, in case something goes boom and we don't want that to happen. We want everybody to be safe. Stay on the side of the building there, okay? >> I guess you stay up here and keep them pushed back and I'll go back down here and circle. >> That's where the fire started from now. >> Start right building so everybody can stand. Go back in the car. >> What about these people over here? >> He said they were fine as long as they stayed on the concrete. >> How many cars you got to tell these people? Especially this guy in the blue. Y'all need to stay over here. >> I know. I work for the water I want to see it. >> I know, but you need to stay over there, too. >> Okay. >> It's a safety issue with power lines and everything falling down. >> I just want to see this water start flowing. It's not every day you get to see it come out the top of the truck like that. I always just see them do that. >> I know I'm supposed to stay over here. I work for the water department. >> He said what? >> She said she works for the water >> Okay. >> That's why she was walking over here. >> Who do you work for? >> Did you ask her where? >> No, even we had to back up. Even they told Casey to back up cuz it was about to start spraying water. Yeah, I knew it was bad when we was coming down Jackson way down there and I started seeing smoke. I was like, "Oh god, this thing's gone." >> That's what I said. >> I hope that woman wasn't in there. >> What woman? >> The woman in that white car that said she was in there. >> What's going on? Do they know that she was supposedly in there? >> Yeah, I told Liller about it and then he said he tried to they tried to make entry and got blew back out. And she was a sweet woman, too. >> I hope she wasn't in there. There it goes. That ain't close enough, buddy. That ain't making it. That's just spraying in. I'm going to tell Casey that that woman might have been in there. I don't know if he knows. What's that right there? >> I work at the CWB distribution warehouse. A guy came in while we were getting an air conditioner. Forced it through the door. >> Just now? >> No, this was at 7:00. Fire with fire. Asked for water. Sweating his ass off when he came over here. He came to the back door. I'm going to let Eric here is my supervisor, my immediate boss. He can tell you more. So, yeah. I don't know if he was involved, but but what he said he used to work for Danny, which is our immediate boss. So, we can probably get his identity as well. >> Take him out. >> Take him out. >> She's going to check. >> Well, I don't know if they knew her name is. >> Yeah, they got something. >> Oh, no. Did you hear what that guy was saying? >> She don't care for what that guy made. >> Well, no that >> She was in the chair trying to pour this and then another guy came and asked me for water and then he run. >> Lee. Lee. Come here. >> What's that? >> Tell him where she would be if she's in there. >> That's in the big cannon. >> Yeah. >> She would have been in the fellowship hall. >> That's the office of that hall. >> Office of the fellowship hall right there. >> It's bad, buddy. >> Yep. >> Don't like that at all. >> Nope. >> Hey, we got a bowling alley and the the church over here outside city hall and they're thinking that there's a lady that was in there and Casey said to go ahead and call you. They said that some guy come over here and said that and said he was pouring sweat and acting all frantic and asking for water and they ran him off and they said then he walked over here to the church. They were just about to I think try to make entry to where she was at. When they tried to make entry like earlier they were like blown out. They've had to just sit there and spray it and spray it. Her car is here, unlocked, the keys are not in it. The guy I talked to said his boss is on the way to give me a description and he said that his higher up boss that the guy said he used to work for him. So, he might know who he is. But they're on their way out here to talk to me. >> He's my supervisor. >> We were here before all this. Only about 7:05. So, >> We were here and some guy pops in my building and he's like, "Hey, I just went for a run." >> He was in a white shirt, half unbuttoned, pretty clean haircut. >> He was disheveled as hell. >> Real sweat. >> We thought we heard something downstairs. So, I was like, "Hmm, Crackhead just got to jump in on us." >> So, we tried to kind of push him out the door. I said, "I have nothing for you." And he's like, "I'm just looking for water." He said, "You got a bottle I can get from you or something?" I said, "Hang on for you to get out of here, whatever." >> "Well, maybe I can find some God's water." And he's just digging around getting trash and in his hands. >> And he'll get what? >> God's water. >> So, he left. So, I got my keys and all that. >> Locked up and I was like, >> "Yeah, this guy is weird." So, I came back outside and I saw that same guy. He was right here at this door knocking on the door. 100% same guy, white shirt, whatever. >> He didn't get anywhere, whatever. I locked up the van, turned it around, pulled it back. And before I went inside, somebody let him inside. Somebody let inside. >> I would wish I was on one of your I wish he was on one of your >> Is there a church here or what? >> So, somebody let him inside. >> He did not burst in or nothing crazy. Somebody opened the door, he went inside. But, I was like, "Well, somebody let him in. So, I guess they're giving him water or whatever he needs." >> And then, you said he said he worked for Danny. So, do you think he would know who that is? >> Without saying anything, he said our boss's name. I used to work for Danny. It's I used to work here. He's like, >> And >> Okay, you don't work here now. >> So, he did say I used to work for Danny. >> So, there's a chance that we could probably identify him by >> I Yeah, if I saw the >> I swear and not trying to be weird, I think every one of his like arms and legs were shaved. Like, he was real clean. >> He looked clean. >> He looked >> clean. >> Okay. >> He looked like he he was tweaking out. >> Do y'all have your IDs with you? And what's the What's the phone number for you? >> 423 >> I got everything I need. >> So, you can get me your number. I hope he didn't have I hope he didn't have something on >> They're going to be angry they come in the line for them and they ain't got We got to keep everybody back cuz this is now a possible arson and a murder scene. So, I don't want you guys to You ain't supposed to be here. You're >> One of the girls said cuz Miss Linda goes to her baby every Thursday with the pastor. Did you have somebody go down there and look? >> In the basement in the church? >> Yeah. >> We could they couldn't get in the church. >> They can't even get in, yeah. >> They can't even get us to the basement. My heart breaks if she's in there. >> I know, but more than likely >> I know, that's why I went ahead and accepted it, but still. I got pretty much everything that I think that they know. They said white shirt half buttoned on is either short sleeve or rolled up. They said he's really clean cut. I thought his arms were shaved maybe. Said that he would get God's water. >> Oh my god. >> Why do I feel like I'm going to die over it? Like if she's making me so mad. Jesus was in the church giving some sweet old lady and open the door. >> I mean, the hours in Englewood, I don't know if they're all here. Bradley County Chief's here. Steve Harvey's here. >> All right. >> Man, this guy's got tanks coming out of his ass, don't he? They're filling them on that trailer over there. >> Oh. >> Let me ask you a question. >> Did anybody run the tag and figure out who that vehicle belongs to? >> That's how old her older female. Everybody's trying to call her, but ain't nobody can get in touch with her. >> It's probably her over there. >> That's what we're thinking. >> Once the fire was out and the church was [music] safe to enter, detectives found the body of Linda Buchanan, the church secretary, inside the building. [music] Investigators later determined she'd been killed before the fire was set. Witnesses reported a man running from the building and with prior familiarity from a recent welfare-related call, >> [music] >> officers identified Kyle Hickox as someone they needed to speak with. The following night, they went to Kyle's home for questioning. >> Who's it, puppy? Very good puppy. Good puppy. Come on, man. >> Huh? >> You hear me? >> Yeah. >> I heard you were saying that he was missing. >> Yeah. >> You doing all right? >> Yeah, I'm doing all right. >> I'm just checking on you, man. I'm like a follow-up. >> Yeah, everything's good. >> Yeah, I'm just checking on you. >> Sarah, come on. Sarah, come on. She's good. She just knows. We're watching a show. >> What show are you watching? >> Uh Peaky Blinders, I think it is. >> Oh. >> Sarah, that's pretty good. She's all right. She's all right. >> Yeah, I like Sons of Anarchy, but I watched that all of it years ago, so now we're watching this. Anyway, what? But yeah, everything's been good. Everything's been real good. >> Okay. >> I mean, you can talk with her. She was the one that was worried about me in the first place. I really did run off for two. >> It's all good, man. It's all good. >> I just ran off for two days. >> Need a break? >> Yeah. I just needed to get out of my own head, for real. You know what I mean? >> You need to go out there in the woods and you do it. >> Hey, we all have bad days, man. You're good. >> All right. Well, everything's good. What? >> Yesterday, did you happen to go over to the ball field, the soccer field, or anything? >> I run around here all the time. Yeah. >> Did you run yesterday then? >> I Yeah, oh yeah, definitely. I ran today. Yeah, why? >> You didn't Did you go talk to the maintenance shed? >> Maintenance shed? >> The blue building up there? >> No, I I usually run to the soccer field, get that free water. I usually just walk around here. You see me around here all the time. You know me. Walk my dog. I don't cause no problems. >> Did you ever go through that cut through? >> Matter of fact, I'm If anything, I'm a victim. >> Just let me Just let me spit real quick. >> Grab a cigarette. I'll be right back. >> That's the picture. >> Mhm. >> Why do this? >> I ran over. >> I just wondered cuz some dudes over there at the maintenance shed said some dude came to talk to him yesterday. >> I talked to a couple of people yesterday. I run around here all the time. They were talking about God. They had sent you guys up over to the Walmart. Over there first saying I was talking to kids and this and that. I was up there trying to just preach. Then I go back in the house. >> Yeah, dude. Yeah, you're good. >> All right. >> I was wondering why they were coming again twice to check on him when you already checked on him. >> Mhm. >> Hey Kyle, would you be cool if uh you don't have to do this. Would you be all right if I took some photos of your tattoos and I put them in your face just to show uh >> This is crazy. This is crazy. I I I mean >> I mean, I it's You don't have to. I was just asking. >> I even saw some dudes in the night. >> Why are you so what's going on what happened? >> Why are you here? Did you go to other people's houses and do this to >> I'm not trying to be disrespectful. You have scared the out of me dude. >> It's just some dude the master description came running from up top. >> I'm not even from here. I'm not even from here. >> I spoke to some people at the maintenance shop at the university right there near the church. The dude kind of looks like you. >> No, all I know is a Danny. If I talked to anybody from Tennessee Wesleyan was a Danny. >> He said our boss's name I used to work for Danny. It's I used to work here. It's like >> I already headed Danny. >> Really? >> my boss. >> I mean really? >> We're just We're just rolling everybody out. So like We're just We're talking to We talked We talked We talked to several people today all day long. >> The reason I asked about the photo was just to show the guys at the maintenance shop like hey did this dude talk to you like right around this time and they can be like yes or no. >> I wish I could be of help. >> All right man, I appreciate your time. I appreciate you >> That doesn't mean you start a fire. >> No, it doesn't. >> I'm going to tell you this. >> So taking the one and doing the other you want to know. >> I mean we never find anybody if we don't ask questions. You know what I'm saying? Well, I appreciate it. Thank you ma'am. Kyle, you need anything reach out, all right? >> But just an hour later officers returned. This time asking to search the home. >> So to be straight forward with you Tennessee Bureau of Investigation we're we're wanting to do a consent search of your residence to see if there's anything related to what we think possibly Kyle may have some knowledge about. >> I'm not going to give consent. I don't I cuz I don't know how confused he's getting and he's on medicine that he's been stopping and all kinds of stuff. >> You're a Dragon Ball fan or you just got started? >> huge huh. Fortnite fan really. >> I never done that. >> play Fortnite? >> No, I don't play Fortnite. I do a little bit of everything else but not Fortnite. >> Hey Kyle, thanks again for letting us happened. >> What? >> Look, you give us verbal consent to search your house to make sure we don't find anything. I just want to make >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> Are you good? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> You're fine >> Fine. Just fine. What? Yeah. Yeah. >> Kyle agreed, but his wife refused, forcing investigators to apply to a judge for a search warrant, not knowing if it would be approved or not. >> We're not arresting you right now. >> All right. >> So, they they want to search your home. We're going to apply for a search warrant. Judge grants it, we're going to search your house. Once we're done searching your house, you'll be free to go back in, but until then it's we're going to have to wait. >> Investigators included [music] surveillance footage showing Kyle near the scene at the time of the fire, making the warrant an easier approval. After [music] investigators submitted it digitally to the on-call judge, it was signed and approved. Inside, they recovered [music] Kyle's shoes stained with blood that was later confirmed to have matched Linda Buchanan, the church secretary, a [music] critical piece of evidence tying him to the fire and murder. After the lab results came back on the blood, Kyle was placed under arrest and put in the back of a patrol car, still seemingly unaware he'd been arrested. >> If you don't give us any problems, we'll keep you handcuffed in the front. >> Oh, yeah. I won't give you no problems, sir. I was raised right. Y'all kind of freaking me out. I talked with somebody from the TBI. I did a DNA swab and everything. I did all kinds of stuff. Search my house and everything. Well, what's this over? What's that thing? Can I have my Bible? Sorry? My Bible? >> We have your Bible. >> You've got it up there. We'll give it to you >> The suspect, 36-year-old Kyle Hickox, was transported to the McMinn County Jail, where he was later charged with the murder of 69-year-old Linda Buchanan, [music] arson, and abuse of a corpse. Linda was a church secretary, a teacher, and a beloved member of her community. The Saint Mark AME Zion Church, founded more than 150 years ago and one of the first black congregations in [music] the region, was completely destroyed in the fire. In April of 2026, a McMinn County jury convicted Hickox of first-degree murder, arson, and [music] abuse of a corpse, with a mandatory minimum of 51 years before parole eligibility. Hickox would be 87 years old at his earliest possible release.