First witnesses called in Jordan Allen's murder trial

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]A jury is seated in the trial for a man accused of a double homicide is underway. Thanks for joining us. I'm Sarah Diamond.

[00:00:07]>> And I'm Casey Marlowe. Jordan Allen facing two counts of first-degree murder for the 2022 deaths of his 7-year-old brother and his grandmother. Allen was 16 years old at the time of the deaths.

[00:00:17]The case was bound over to criminal court in 2022 and Allen is now being tried as an adult. Jury selection began this morning and the trial is underway.

[00:00:28]News Channel 11's Haley Pitcher has been in the courtroom for every minute of this case. Haley, what can you tell us about the first day of the trial?

[00:00:38]Yeah, Casey, out of over a dozen witnesses, the prosecution brought three to the stand on Monday afternoon. Each other presenting testimony to Allen's character and upbringing or of the alleged events of April 24th, 2022. The prosecution opened quoting an alleged verbal confession Allen had given to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation saying he had killed Jessie Allen and Sherry Cole with a hammer and intended to do so. The argument additionally detailed the alleged events of April 24th, 2022.

[00:01:09]Part of that retelling comes from Greene County Sheriff's Deputy and brother of Sherry Cole, Rick Williams. Williams had shown up to the scene as an off-duty officer that night and recounts the moment he saw the deceased.

[00:01:21]And they were both just face down side by side.

[00:01:28]Just And I I know what I know what death looks like.

[00:01:33]So, I stepped away and continued talking to 911, telling them we needed everybody and just get everybody out there that I know.

[00:01:46]Williams went on to say he does not believe Bill Cole was the man behind these murders as Bill Cole, excuse me, as Williams had never seen Cole raise his voice or lose his temper at Sherry Cole nor either of his grandsons. The trial will continue tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Reporting in Greene County, Haley Witcher, NewsChannel 11. Back to the studio.