Man Charged with Murder of Gatlinburg Woman in Her Home

Authorities charged a man with first degree murder in the case of a woman found dead at a Gatlinburg residence on Wednesday.

Officers from the Gatlinburg Police Department responded to an East Highland Drive residence on Sept. 27, 2017 where they found Melinda Ruth Russell deceased, just one day after her 43rd birthday.

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, TBI Special Agents joined the homicide investigation at the request of 4th District Attorney General James Dunn. They developed information that 35-year-old Victor Scott Bradburn, of Sevierville, was the individual allegedly responsible for Russell’s death.

Agents secured a warrant on Friday charging Bradburn with first degree murder. He was served in the Sevier County Jail, where he was already held on a violation of probation charge. Bond was set at $1 million.