NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It wasn't just windows that shattered on Christmas morning in Nashville, it was the city's sense of security. Within a few hours, city tourism leaders raised several thousand dollars in reward money - offered to anyone who could help investigators solve the crime.
Christmas Day evening, CNBC reality TV host Marcus Lemonis tweeted that he would boost the reward fund by $250,000.
In all, the reward amount stands over $300,000, which begs the question, who should receive it?
"We have some money that we have collected. If someone deserves it, we are happy to pay it out," said Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation CEO Butch Spyridon.
One potential recipient could be the bomber's girlfriend.NewsChannel 5 Investigates discovered, she actually reached out to Metro Nashville Police last year to report that Anthony Warner was making bombs inside his home. Metro Police Chief John Drake told reporters that they tried to reach out to Warner, but never sought a warrant or pursued the tip further.
Spyridon says he's waiting to hear back from investigators about where the money should go. "We’re going to take our direction from Metro PD or the FBI," said Spyridon.
NewsChannel 5 spoke to representatives for both the FBI field office in Memphis and Metro Nashville Police. Both spokespeople said since their agency didn't raise the money for the reward, they wouldn't play a role in determining who should receive it.
Spyridon says he's still looking into it, including another option for where the money goes.
"If the FBI or police do not direct us to somebody, then we will take the money that was raised and we will donate it to victims that were directly impacted," he said.
Spyridon added that all of the groups that donated to the reward fund have been notified of these options and that they approve. He says he hopes to have a resolution to the matter by next week.
