Tennessee Death Row Inmate Convicted In 90s Dies Before Execution Date Set

A Tennessee death row prisoner sentenced almost 30 years ago for first-degree killing was killed Monday by natural causes. He was 71 years old.

James Dellinger was sentenced in 1996 to death for first-degree murder. He was discovered dead at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, Nashville, by authorities. told Local media

Tennessee Department of Correction said that the cause of the death was unknown.

According to authorities, a medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

Amy D. Harwell, Attorney, stated in a statement that WBIR Dellinger was fighting cancer.

“Mr. Dellinger died before his legal team was able to vindicate his absolute and unwavering insistence that he was innocent of the murders that sent him to death row,” Harwell stated.

“Mr. Dellinger was the consummate East Tennessee story teller, among the last of a breed of mountain men who lived large and recounted his adventures in even larger stories.”

“To spend any time with James Dellinger was a gift—getting to listen to a master practice his craft. From bear stories to moonshine, James Dellinger knew how to keep an audience enthralled. His family and legal team mourn his passing,” She added.

In 1992, Tommy Griffin was murdered by Dellinger and Gary Sutton.

Local media reported that Griffin was arrested for public intoxication following a night out at Maryville’s Dellinger and Sutton bars. Later that evening Dellinger, Sutton and Griffin bailed Griffin out from jail.

Griffin’s body was discovered three days later near the Little River in Townsend on February 21, 1992, where gunshots were reportedly heard shortly after Dellinger and Sutton bailed him out of jail.

Muderpedia.org reports that Griffin had been shot with a shotgun at close range and was left next to the river.

Dellinger and Sutton reportedly killed Griffin’s sister, Connie Branam, the next day after she had searched for her brother.

Branam’s body was discovered in her burned vehicle.

Both Dellinger and Sutton were convicted of Branam’s murder in 1993.

Authorities originally scheduled Sutton’s execution date on October 6. Tennessee Governor. Bill Lee granted a reprieve on May.

Lee suspended executions in Tennessee due to a Tennessee Department of Correction report that stated authorities failed to adhere to its lethal injection protocol. It was implemented in 2018.

Officials from the department said that they will revise and update the protocol and training.