COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A man in Cookeville is now facing murder charges in the death of a 15-year-old girl.
Olivia Taylor was reported missing on Wednesday, but by the next day, her body was found in a wooded rural area east of Cookeville.
Charles "Chuck" Carter, 63, was arrested last week on an aggravated statutory rape charge. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said he admitted before Olivia's body was found that he gave her illegal narcotics, which caused her death.
Carter is now additionally charged with second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. He is being held in the Putnam County Jail without bond and is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Judge Steven Randolph set multiple bonds for Carter Wednesday following the court hearing totaling $500,000. The individual bonds are $400,000 for one count of 2nd degree murder, $50,000 for one count of aggravated statutory rape and $50,000 bond for one count of abuse of a corpse.
“A source hearing is a court hearing to determine who is making the bond and where the financial source is coming from, and would have to be approved by the Judge before the bond can be accepted, says Sheriff Eddie Farris.
Carter has a preliminary court date set for Feb. 15, 2023.
