Man allegedly stabbed to death over phone volume conflict in Chattanooga

By Mason Edwards, Chattanooga Times Free Press

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Joseph Tanner Smith

A Soddy-Daisy man is being held on a $1 million bond after being charged in the stabbing death of his brother after an apparent early morning argument over phone volume.

Joseph Tanner Smith, 31, was charged with criminal homicide after Justin Tyler Smith, 37, died in a hospital after being found with stab wounds to the chest, according to a Chattanooga Police Department press release.

Police responded to the reported stabbing around 5:30 a.m. Sunday at a Lindsay Avenue home. Officers found Justin Smith with multiple stab wounds and Joseph Smith with a cut on his head, a sworn law enforcement affidavit in the case said.

Police believe the brothers had a disagreement that escalated into a physical altercation, the press release said.

According to the affidavit, Justin Smith angered his brother by complaining that his brother's phone volume was keeping him awake.

"I observed a large amount of blood in the living room, kitchen and hallway outside the victim's bedroom," Detective Stephen Bulkley said in the affidavit, which said Joseph Smith waived his right to remain silent. "The defendant gave numerous conflicting and inculpatory statements during the interview."

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Joseph Smith initially told the officer he had no memory of the altercation but later said his brother was complaining about the phone.

Bulkley found a bloody knife and a bloody mallet, and he interviewed a witness who watched Justin Smith strike Joseph Smith with a mallet, according to the affidavit.

The officer found Justin Smith's actions with the mallet to be consistent with self-defense, considering the witness said Justin Smith had been stabbed in the chest before the mallet swing, the affidavit said.

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Joseph Smith is set to appear before General Sessions Court Judge Larry Ables on Aug. 8, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office website.