Couple Charged with Murder of Missing Seymour Man

Two people have been arrested for the murder of a Seymour man who went missing in August.

The Sevier County Sheriff’ Office announced today that Troy A. Meeker, 43, and 44-year-old Vanessa L. Meeker have been charged with the murder of John Dahlstedt, of Seymour.

The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division began investigating after 63-year-old Dahlstedt went missing in August. The Meekers were living with Dahlstedt at the time of his disappeared and were interviewed several times by detectives.

John Dahlstedt, of Seymour.

On Nov. 25, 2015, investigators from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation excavated a clandestine grave and human remains were found. An autopsy conducted at the UT Forensic Anthropology Center in Knoxville positively identified the remains as being John Dahlstedt. The manner of death was ruled as a homicide.

Agents with the U.S. Marshals Service took the suspects into custody in Pensacola, Fla. on Dec. 3, 2015.

A Grand Jury issued presentments for First Degree Murder, Felony Murder, Abuse of a Corpse, Theft over $10,000 and Forgery over $60,000 based on the investigation.

The Meekers were extradited back to Tennessee and are being held in the Sevier County Jail under a 2 million dollar bond. An arraignment date has yet to be set.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information on the case is asked to contact the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at (865)-428-1899.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.