Franklin man arraigned in slaying of wife at I-40 rest stop

By Harriet Vaughan, The Tennessean and Mariann Martin, Gannett

A Franklin man was arraigned Wednesday on charges that he waited for his estranged wife to show up at an Interstate 40 rest stop just west of the Tennessee River, then shot and stabbed her to death.

Billy Bridges, 65, of Brink Place in Franklin is being held on $1 million bond in the Benton County jail awaiting his March 17 preliminary hearing in connection with the Monday morning slaying of his wife of more than 40 years.

Witnesses told police that Bridges had been waiting for Eva Bridges, 66, at the rest area near milepost 131. Around 11:30, she returned to her car. That's when witnesses say Billy shot her and then stabbed her in the throat before waiting for police to arrive.

"We believe she had some type of routine to stop there," Benton County Sheriff Tony King said, noting that she had been in Franklin during the weekend with her daughter before heading back to her new home in Jackson, Tenn.

According to an affidavit, Billy Bridges admitted to killing her after he was read his rights. He arrived for his arraignment on Wednesday in Benton County General Sessions Court dressed in a bulletproof vest. He showed no reaction as the charges against him were read.

"I found out yesterday I need to hire my own attorney," Billy Bridges told the judge. "My daughter is going to be working on that."

Divorce battle was over
The couple, who had two children and a grandchild together, had just wrapped up a five-month divorce battle characterized by Julia Stovall, Eva Bridges' lawyer, as "difficult."

The couple had spent much of the day with their lawyers before finally reaching a settlement. Eva Bridges walked away with $31,000 worth of savings bonds and $1,800 a month from Billy Bridges' retirement pension, according to Stovall. Billy Bridges was granted the couple's home in Franklin near Del Rio Pike and property in Benton County near Kentucky Lake.

"She didn't get 50 percent, but she was happy," Stovall said. "She just wanted to get away from him. But he didn't want to give up those savings bonds - he would get angry when it came up."

Billy Bridges' attorney, Kirk Vandivort, did not immediately return a phone message left at his office.

According to the divorce file, Eva Bridges expressed concern for her safety and described her husband as "very emotionally and verbally abusive."

The divorce complaint alleges two incidents in August when Billy Bridges reportedly pushed Eva Bridges with his body and ordered her to remain in her room. In the second, he forced her to leave their home and told her not to come back.

Franklin Police Department spokesman Sgt. Charles Warner said police had not responded to any domestic incidents at the couple's home. The Williamson County General Sessions and Circuit Court offices said neither Billy Bridges nor Eva Bridges had a prior record or an order of protection. 

Neighbors are shocked
Neighbors of the couple describe Billy Bridges as "a sweet old man."

"That is so shocking. He was so caring towards her and the kids," said Shelia Crutcher, who lived a few doors down from the Bridges for 10 years.

She said a team of uniformed and plainclothes police officers and a crime scene van were at the couple's home most of Monday.

"That was a sweet, sweet man. And the lady was just sweet, too. You would never believe something like that happened," Crutcher said.

Crutcher and neighbor Lance Woolridge both said they never witnessed any trouble, arguments or violence between the couple.

"They were so sweet to each other and would talk sweet to each other," Woolridge said.

Stovall said that wasn't the case.

"He was a mean man, and she was afraid of him," Stovall said.