Convicted murderer Kennan Murphy remains incarcerated at the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex awaiting trial for the First Degree Murder of Thomas Curry, Jr., the attempted murder of another man, and the first degree murder of William Brian McKenzie.
On September 25, 2019 a man was shot and another was seriously injured in a shooting that occurred on Neff Street in Jackson, TN. Julio Alvarez died as a result of that shooting.
On September 27, 2019 Brian McKenzie was reported missing by his family. Brian had last been seen driving a black Jeep shortly before the time of his disappearance.
On October 4, 2019 a man was shot and another man was seriously injured in a shooting that occurred on Fairway Blvd in Jackson, TN. Keenan Murphy was identified as the suspect and arrested a short distance away fleeing from the scene. Thomas Curry, Jr. died as a result of that shooting.
After an investigation by the Jackson Tennessee Police Department Keenan Murphy was charged with multiple counts of First Degree Murder and Attempted Murder in Jackson City Court in 2019. These charges were for the shootings incidents on September 25 and October 4, 2019. In 2020 Keenan Murphy was indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury for two counts of First Degree Murder, two counts of Attempted Murder, and two counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony related to the 2019 shootings in Jackson, TN.
On August 30, 2021 a submerged Jeep was discovered in a residential pond located in the Howeston Mills subdivision in Jackson, TN. Human remains were found inside the Jeep. The Jeep was immediately identified as the one Brian McKenzie was reported to have been driving on the day he went missing. The remains were sent to Nashville to the State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy.
On December 17, 2021 a Madison County Circuit Court (Division 3) returned a guilty verdict of First Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and Employing a Firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony against Keenan Murphy for the September 25, 2019 shooting that occurred on Neff Street in Jackson, TN. The 26th Judicial District’s assistant district attorney Brad Champine represented the State of Tennessee during this trial. Keenan Murphy was represented by the public defender’s office.
On February 7, 2022 the state Medical Examiner’s Office released their autopsy report that positively identified the remains found in the Jeep as William Brian McKenzie. The medical examiner’s office reported the death was a homicide caused by gun shot wounds. The Jackson Police Department presented the findings and evidence of the investigation into William Brian McKenzie’s death to the 26th Judicial District’s Attorney General.
On February 23, 2022 Keenan Murphy was sentenced by Madison County Circuit Court Judge Kyle Adkins to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder of Julio Alvarez, 20 years for the attempted murder of the other victim and 6 additional years for the firearm charge. All of his sentences must be served consecutively.
On February 28, 2022 Keenan was again indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury for the First Degree Murder of William Brian McKenzie that occurred in Jackson, TN on September 27, 2019 based on the investigation of the Jackson Police Department. Keenan Murphy has been arraigned in Madison County Circuit Court on this most recent charge.
Keenan Murphy’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 2022 in Madison County Division 3 Circuit Court. Keenan Murphy remains incarcerated at the Madison County Jail.
