Tennessee realtor Karen Liner was murdered on Monday January 27, 2025. Her alleged killer is her ex-husband Charlton Craig Liner.
Karen and Craig (the name he went by) had two children together.
Karen previously wrote this information on her website:
“I originally pursued my desire to help others through a career as a Registered Nurse. I have always been compassionate about helping and caring for people. I worked locally as a nurse for 20 years. After taking a few years off to be home with my family, I decided to pursue another passion of mine, becoming a real estate agent.
“I love meeting new people and making new friends everyday. I look forward to helping others achieve their dreams through the purchase of a home or investment property in my wonderful town.
“Growing up in our beautiful town of Cleveland, TN has been such a blessing. I attended Lee University and the University of TN at Chattanooga. My husband, Craig and I have been married for 23 years and have 2 wonderful children, ages 10 and 16. I serve on several community Boards of Directors. As a local volunteer, I have learned so much about the compassion and spirit of our community. The people are what makes our community so great.”
Karen and Craig ended up getting a divorce in September 2024.
In the divorce document, Craig accused Karen of “inappropriate marital conduct.”
But in the final decree they agreed to cite “irreconcilable differences”
Craig went to Karen’s home on Monday. Karen called 911 and could be heard saying “Get out of my driveway.” After she said her address to the 911 dispatcher, she then could be heard saying, “Please stop, Craig. Please stop.”
Multiple gunshots were then heard over the 911 call, and Karen ceased to respond. “An additional gunshot can be heard approximately one minute after [Karen] stops screaming,” the incident report states.
“When officers arrived, they found one unresponsive female laying in the driveway with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.”
Nearby, a neighbor’s home security camera captured video of Craig’s vehicle, a Lincoln MKZ, pulling up to Karen’s residence. This was used by CPD to track down Craig, who was known to park his vehicle at a residence on Bluff Drive. The owner of this residence informed CPD that Craig had gotten out of his vehicle with three guns and could be heard saying something to the effect of, “It’s done. I killed her.”
The owner of the residence asked Craig to bring the guns inside his home, and he had Craig identify for him which gun he used. Craig identified the .40 caliber pistol, according to the resident.
When Craig left the Bluff Drive residence in a Range Rover, the owner of the Bluff Drive residence “put on gloves and took the handgun outside and set it on the tire of a trailer in his driveway.”
He told CPD that he moved the gun because “he did not want a murder weapon in his home.”
Officers then went to Craig’s residence in Bentley Park. Calling Craig, CPD was able to get him to respond and asked if he would exit his home.
Craig complied, and the report notes his attire was consistent with what could be seen in the security video footage.
Craig has been charged with first-degree murder and felony murder, Cleveland police say. He is being held at the Bradley County Justice Center with no bond.
In a twist in the case, in 2016, Craig’s parents were involved in a murder/suicide and Craig was the one to find their bodies.
This is an article from 2016:
An 83-year-old man and his 84-year-old wife were found shot to death inside their Cleveland, Tenn., home on Sunday in what police say appears to be a murder-suicide.
The couple’s son found Max and Sue Liner dead inside their home at 515 Springhill Drive around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, according to Cleveland police.
Police did not say who they believe was the shooter in the deaths, but did confirm that one person’s wounds appeared to be self-inflicted.
Both Max and Sue Liner suffered from health issues, public information officer Evie West said. She did not disclose any specific health conditions and said the investigation into the deaths is ongoing.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/jan/28/cleveland-tennessee-man-arrested-and-charged-with
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/cleveland-man-charged-with-first-degree-murder-of-ex-wife
https://www.pfhfike.com/obituaries/6608270
https://www.pfhfike.com/obituaries/6608269