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Cherokee man arrested after body found in Smokies
By Derek Hodges
The discovery of a Cherokee woman’s body in Great Smoky Mountains National Park has led to murder charges against a Cherokee man.
Members of a Florida church who were hiking in the Deep Creek area on Jan. 15 found the body of 18-year old Tammie Seay off Toms Branch Road.
The discovery launched an investigation that involved law enforcement officials from the FBI, Cherokee Police Department, Swain County Sheriff’s Office and the National Park Service.
The search led to 20-year old Terrence Roach, who was arrested Jan. 20. According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Christopher Lando, Roach confessed to the Jan. 13 murder prior to his arrest.
Roach made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Asheville on Monday (Jan. 23). During that session, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell granted Roach, who said he is unemployed, a court-appointed attorney.
Roach was charged with first-degree murder based on Lando’s investigation. The agent’s report says the murder was premeditated and malicious, two factors used to determine the severity of the crime.
According to Lando’s report, Roach said Seay had been stealing drugs from him for several months, including about an ounce of cocaine the day before the murder. Roach said several friends confirmed Seay had stolen up to $5,500 worth of drugs from him.
Roach told Lando that on the night of the murder he had consensual sex with Seay at the home of an 18-year old identified only as Glen. Roach said he left the home and returned at approximately 9:30 p.m. in a green Chevrolet Camaro owned and driven by 19-year old Michael Slee. They found Seay drunk and unconscious, and helped her into the vehicle.
After picking up Seay, Slee told Lando that Roach directed him to “head towards Bryson City and directed him through the Deep Creek area and onto a gravel road.” Slee stopped the vehicle at a pull-off about a half mile into the park. The three left the car and walked a short distance into the woods.
Roach told Seay, who was still passing in and out of consciousness, and Slee they had come to the area to await a drug delivery. When Seay said she would like some of the drugs when they arrived, Roach told her she couldn’t have any and forced her to the ground. When Seay approached Roach a second time he pushed her down again and shot her in the face. Roach said he then heard Seay moan, loaded another bullet, and shot her, this time in the forehead.
Roach and Slee then drove back to Cherokee, and, at about 11 p.m., stopped by the home of 18-year old Joseph Squirrel, who had also been at Glen’s home earlier in the evening. Squirrel told Lando that Roach handed him a gun and admitted killing Seay. Roach said he had the gun that night because of the potential drug deal.
Roach, Slee and Squirrell all initially said Seay had gotten into a silver vehicle somewhere between Glen’s house and Deep Creek and that no one had seen her since she got into that car.
“Roach, however, recanted his original statement and said, ‘I did it,’” Lando wrote.
Roach, Seay, Slee and Squirrel are all enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and residents of Cherokee, according to Lando’s affidavit.
While Roach is the only person charged in connection with the murder so far, Swain County Sheriff Bob Ogle said others could be charged.
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