Family attack suspect captured next door

Family attack suspect captured next door

By HANA KIM
Good Morning Tennessee Reporter

BEAN STATION (WATE) -- The man accused of attacking five of his family members in Bean Station last weekend was taken into custody Wednesday morning next door to the attack scene, ending a four day manhunt.

William Randall Crawford, 34, was arrested in the back yard of his Bean Station home just after 8:30 a.m.

His home is beside the home of his in-laws', on Lakeshore Drive, where he's accused of shooting, stabbing and biting his estranged wife, son, daughter, mother-in-law and father-in-law.

He's expected to be charged with attempted first degree murder and other charges. Investigators haven't given any motive for the attack.

A family member whose identity hasn't been released was contacted by Crawford Wednesday morning saying he wanted the family member to pick him up.

Instead, the family member contacted the Grainger County Sheriff's Department and gave officers Crawford's location, leading to his arrest.

Crawford was taken to Jefferson Memorial Hospital for treatment of a possible broken ankle, dehydration and hypothermia.

Crawford told officers he hadn't had any food or water since Saturday night.

Officers say Crawford was wearing the same shirt he had on Saturday night. He was also wet and muddy. They believe he'd been hiding in the woods since the attack.

Officers from several agencies had been looking for Crawford since Saturday night. 

Bean Station police say Crawford, who has no previous criminal record, entered his in-laws' house around 10:17 p.m. Saturday and attacked his family.

Investigators say Crawford shot through the front door window of the home grazing, his mother-in-law, 53-year-old Loretta Dalton, in the head.

They say Crawford then shot his father-in-law, Jeff Dalton, as well as stabbing him in the stomach, plus he stabbed his estranged wife, 32-year-old Emily Crawford, in the left leg.

Crawford also stabbed his son, 15-year-old Austin Crawford, in the chest and bit his daughter, Candice Crawford, during a scuffle.

Crawford's wife had an order of protection against him that was filed on April 23. She was staying at her parents' house, which is next door.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Bean Station Police Department, Grainger County Sheriff's Department, Hamblen County Sheriff's Department and Knox County Sheriff's Department were all involved in the search for Crawford.

Crawford will be booked into the Grainger County Jail.

Four of the family members who were attacked have been released from the hospital. Only Crawford's father-in-law, Jeff Dalton, is still hospitalized.