After a five-year investigation, authorities have arrested Amanda Bishop, 39, the wife of Tennessee Army National Guard soldier Jacob Bishop, who was found murdered in 2019, along with her cousin, Eric Byrd, also 39. According to a report by Law and Crime on Thursday, August 15, 2024, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Department announced this significant breakthrough, bringing hope for closure to a family that has endured years of grief and uncertainty.
On August 13, Amanda Bishop, a resident of Kingston, and Byrd, from Lenoir City, were taken into custody. Both were arrested in Kingston, Tennessee and are currently held at the Loudon County Detention Center, facing charges of first-degree murder. The bond has been set at $1 million for each defendant, told The New York Post.
“We hope that these arrests bring some measure of peace to Jacob Bishop’s family and all those affected by this senseless tragedy,” stated Loudon County Sheriff Jimmy Davis. This arrest marks a crucial development in a case that has haunted both investigators and the Bishop family since Jacob’s tragic death.
Jacob Bishop, 35, had just returned home to Tennessee in 2019 after a yearlong deployment in Poland. However, his joyous return was short-lived. Just five months later, his mother, Diane Bishop, found him dead in his apartment after he failed to answer her calls. Jacob had been shot, bound, and zip-tied, a discovery that shattered his family.
“When you find your son dead on the floor in his apartment, that’s something that sticks in your brain and it don’t go away. It does not go away,” Diane Bishop shared in a 2021 interview with Knoxville’s NBC affiliate WBIR. Her words reflected the raw grief and horror of a mother’s worst nightmare.
For years, the case baffled investigators. Jacob was known to be a friendly, sociable man, and detectives struggled to understand why anyone would want to harm him. Despite interviewing and investigating around 400 individuals, the case remained the only unsolved homicide in Loudon County for decades.
At the time of his death, Jacob and Amanda Bishop were reportedly in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle over their daughter. Although Amanda was initially not considered a suspect, her arrest has cast new light on the complex dynamics that may have contributed to the crime. While authorities have not yet disclosed a clear motive, the custody dispute could play a significant role in unraveling the circumstances that led to Jacob’s murder.
The arrests of Amanda Bishop and Eric Byrd offer a bittersweet sense of relief for Jacob’s family, particularly his brother, Josh Bishop. In an interview with ABC affiliate WATE, Josh expressed his conflicting emotions: “I still don’t have my brother. My mom still doesn’t have her son. But as far as justice, it’s nice to know where they are, you know what I mean, so no one can do this again.”
Jacob Bishop is survived by his now 7-year-old daughter, who has been caught in the crossfire of her parents’ tragedy. Her father’s murder and mother’s arrest have left her with a heavy burden for someone so young. Josh Bishop emphasized that his main concern now is ensuring that Jacob’s children, especially his daughter, grow up knowing who their father truly was. “Really, what I want is for his kids to know about their dad,” Josh said. “There’s a 7-year-old girl that not only lost her father but lost her mother too.”
Sheriff Davis commended his team for their dedication, noting that the case remained a top priority throughout the years. “Today’s arrests mark a crucial step towards justice for Jacob Bishop and his family,” Sheriff Davis declared. “This case has remained a top priority for our office, and I commend the relentless efforts of our detectives and partner agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
As both suspects await their court appearance on August 19, the Bishop family and the community look for answers and closure in a case that has weighed heavily on their hearts for far too long.