The gruesome 2017 murder of a man in Rutherford County by the name of James Whitehead briefly went before the appeals court after the convicted killer argued that evidence in the case was insufficient for his conviction, among other complaints.  

Looking back to the original trial, a Rutherford County jury convicted David Oeser with first-degree premediated murder, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. The charges came after Oeser was accused of bludgeoning the victim to with a sledgehammer, cutting the victims throat and stabbing him multiple times. The murder of James Whitehead happened in Smyrna at the victims home.

Despite Oeser’s plea to have a new trial, the appeal courts denied any further movement in the case and the end result of the lower courts will remain in place.  

The Tennessee Supreme Court denied the motion for a new trial on March 17, 2021.

51-Year-old Oeser will remain behind bars for the rest of his life. He is currently incarcerated at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.

Source:
M2019-01052-SC-R11-CD
No. M2019-01052-CCA-R3-CD