Investigation by the police department's Cold Case Unit has led to indictments in two unrelated murder cases from 2000 and 2004.
Danny Eugene Rogers, 33, an inmate in the Tennessee Department of Correction, has been indicted on a charge of second-degree murder for the June 3, 2000, shooting death of Dedrick Havis outside 1023 North 6th Street. Investigation by Sergeant Pat Postiglione and Detective Bill Pridemore shows that Rogers went into the known drug area and encountered Havis, who was age 24 at the time. The detectives believe that Havis grabbed money out of Rogers hand and attempted to flee, prompting Rogers to open fire. Rogers, who is from Chattanooga, is presently serving a prison sentence for murder out of Meigs County.
In the second case, Brian Thomas Britton, 29, also an inmate in the Tennessee Department of Correction, has been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder for the November 23, 2004, shooting death of Christopher Smith at Smith's apartment in the Gables complex off Bell Road in South Nashville. Investigation by Detective Hugh Coleman shows that Britton and others went to the apartment to commit a drug-related robbery. As Smith, who was age 26 at the time, answered the door, he was fatally wounded. Britton is presently serving time for aggravated burglary. Others are expected to be charged in connection with Smith's murder.
"The Cold Case Unit headed by Sergeant Postiglione continues to do outstanding work and, with each new indictment, demonstrates to families that their cases have not been forgotten despite the passage of years," Chief Ronal Serpas said.
Since March 2005, the Cold Case Unit has cleared a total of 21 old homicide cases, 18 by arrest and three by exception (the suspects identified in those three cases are deceased).
Brian Britton
Dedrick Havis
Danny Eugene Rogers
Christopher Dion Smith
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