Ex-wife of church shooting suspect is former member

Ex-wife of church shooting suspect is former member

By KRISTYN HENTSCHEL
6 News Reporter 

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- An ex-wife of the suspect in the deadly shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was once a church member.

Jim D. Adkisson, 58, has been divorced five times. According to congregation President Ted Jones, one of his ex-wives was a member about a decade ago.

That ex-wife is Liza Alexander, of Powell, according to one of her friends who called the 6 Newsroom.

Church members say the ex-wife hadn't been active in the church in years and it's not clear if Adkisson ever attended.

Anderson County court documents show Alexander was Adkisson's fifth ex-wife and filed an order of protection against him in March 2000.

In that filing, she said Adkisson threatened to blow her head off and then his.

Court records also show Alexander claimed Adkisson drank heavily every day, became belligerent and made threats against her on previous occasions. Their marriage ended in June 2000.

Alexander couldn't be reached for comment on Monday.

6 News also spoke with some of Adkisson's family members off-camera Monday. They say they're saddened by the tragedy.