Johnny Cash's Great-Niece Found Stabbed to Death
- 10 years ago
Police in Tennessee are investigating a violent and troubling murder. The victim has been identified as Courtney Cash.
Police in Tennessee are investigating a violent and troubling murder. The victim has been identified as Courtney Cash. She is the great-niece of late singer Johnny Cash.
According to David Andrews, the Putnam County Sheriff, Cash’s body was found inside her residence located near Cookeville. Cash’s remains were stuffed inside a wooden box. She had been stabbed to death.
Andrews said Cash and her boyfriend had invited a friend to their home, Wayne Gary Masciarella, shortly before the murder. At some point, an altercation broke out.
As the fight intensified, the victim’s boyfriend, William Austin Johnson was stabbed but he managed to escape. Johnson and Cash have a young daughter together. Johnson took the 20-month-old child out of the house and out of harms way before driving himself to the hospital.
He was treated for stab wounds at a medical center in Nashville and his condition is listed as stable. Authorities responded to Cash’s house after 911 calls came in.
They suspect Masciarella placed Cash’s body inside the box in an effort to hide her. Andrews released a possible motive for the murder, stating ‘This is a senseless, tragic death of a young lady whose life was probably taken as a direct or indirect result of drugs.’
Masciarella was arrested and charged with first degree murder.
Police in Tennessee are investigating a violent and troubling murder. The victim has been identified as Courtney Cash. She is the great-niece of late singer Johnny Cash.
According to David Andrews, the Putnam County Sheriff, Cash’s body was found inside her residence located near Cookeville. Cash’s remains were stuffed inside a wooden box. She had been stabbed to death.
Andrews said Cash and her boyfriend had invited a friend to their home, Wayne Gary Masciarella, shortly before the murder. At some point, an altercation broke out.
As the fight intensified, the victim’s boyfriend, William Austin Johnson was stabbed but he managed to escape. Johnson and Cash have a young daughter together. Johnson took the 20-month-old child out of the house and out of harms way before driving himself to the hospital.
He was treated for stab wounds at a medical center in Nashville and his condition is listed as stable. Authorities responded to Cash’s house after 911 calls came in.
They suspect Masciarella placed Cash’s body inside the box in an effort to hide her. Andrews released a possible motive for the murder, stating ‘This is a senseless, tragic death of a young lady whose life was probably taken as a direct or indirect result of drugs.’
Masciarella was arrested and charged with first degree murder.