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Lillelid murders

SOLVED1997Payne Hollow Lane, near Baileyton, Greene County, Tennessee3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On April 6, 1997, Vidar Lillelid (34), his wife Delfina Lillelid (28), and their children Tabitha (6) and Peter (2) were shot on a rural road near Baileyton in Greene County, Tennessee. The family, who were Jehovah's Witnesses returning to Knoxville from a religious convention in Johnson City, stopped at a rest area along Interstate 81, where they encountered six young people from Pikeville, Kentucky, who were traveling toward New Orleans. Vidar approached the group to discuss his religious beliefs; the conversation was later interrupted when one of the group displayed a handgun and announced that the family's van would be taken. The Lillelids were forced into their own van and driven to a secluded road, Payne Hollow Lane, where they were removed from the vehicle and shot multiple times.

Vidar and Delfina died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds; forensic testimony indicated Delfina may have remained conscious for a period after being shot before the van was driven over her body. Tabitha was shot once in the head, causing brain death, and died in the hospital the following day after her organs were donated. Peter was shot twice, sustaining injuries that led to the loss of an eye and other permanent disabilities; he survived after emergency treatment and lengthy hospitalization.

The six individuals involved — Jason Bryant, Natasha Cornett, Dean Mullins, Joseph Risner, Crystal Sturgill, and Karen Howell, ranging in age from 14 to 20 — were arrested two days later at the U.S.–Mexico border in Arizona after a journey that took them through Georgia and briefly into Mexico. Several had personal items belonging to the Lillelid family in their possession at the time of arrest.

District Attorney Berkeley Bell later stated that Bryant was the only person he believed could be proven to have fired shots, but pursued a plea arrangement under which the death penalty was withdrawn if all six defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree murder within a set time frame. All six accepted the plea. In March 1998, they were convicted of felony murder in connection with the kidnapping and carjacking that resulted in the three deaths, each receiving three life sentences plus 25 years for the attempted murder of Peter. The court did not determine which defendant bore primary responsibility for the shootings; testimony from co-defendants indicated Bryant fired the fatal shots, though the presiding judge suggested another member of the group might also have done so. Bryant reportedly admitted to a law-enforcement officer in Arizona that he shot Vidar, but this statement was ruled inadmissible because he had not been read his rights; he later changed his account.

Cornett's 2002 appeal challenged the absence of evidence supporting rumored occult involvement that had been referenced during proceedings; the appeal was unsuccessful. In 2016, Bryant and Howell became eligible for resentencing consideration following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Montgomery v. Louisiana. Peter Lillelid was raised by his paternal aunt in Sweden after a custody dispute, later returned to the United States, and has spoken publicly about his recovery.

Key facts

Victims
Delfina Lillelid, Vidar Lillelid, Tabitha Lillelid, Peter Lillelid
Date
1997
Location
Payne Hollow Lane, near Baileyton, Greene County, Tennessee
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1997-04-06

    The Lillelid family is carjacked and kidnapped at a rest stop near Baileyton, Greene County, Tennessee, then driven to Payne Hollow Lane and shot. Vidar and Delfina Lillelid die at the scene.

  2. 1997-04-07

    Tabitha Lillelid dies in the hospital, one day after the shooting, following organ donation.

  3. 1997-04-08

    The six perpetrators are arrested at the U.S.–Mexico border in Arizona, two days after the murders.

  4. 1997-07-01

    A Tennessee judge awards custody of Peter Lillelid to his paternal aunt, Randi Heier, in Sweden.

  5. 1998-03

    All six defendants are convicted of felony murder and attempted murder following guilty pleas; each is sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.

  6. 2001-08-24

    Natasha Cornett is allegedly involved in an attack on a fellow inmate, Patricia Jones, though investigators found insufficient evidence to charge her.

  7. 2002

    Natasha Cornett's appeal of her conviction, citing the lack of evidence for occult involvement referenced at trial, is unsuccessful.

  8. 2016

    Jason Bryant and Karen Howell become eligible for resentencing consideration under Montgomery v. Louisiana.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Natasha Cornett

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years; 2002 appeal unsuccessful.

  • Dean Mullins

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.

  • Delfina Lillelid

    VICTIM

    Killed on April 6, 1997, at age 28; shot multiple times.

  • Vidar Lillelid

    VICTIM

    Killed on April 6, 1997, at age 34; shot multiple times.

  • Jason Bryant

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.

  • Joseph Risner

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.

  • Tabitha Lillelid

    VICTIM

    Killed at age 6; shot in the head, died in hospital the following day.

  • Crystal Sturgill

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.

  • Peter Lillelid

    VICTIM

    Shot twice at age 2; survived with permanent disabilities including loss of an eye.

  • Karen Howell

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years; became eligible for resentencing in 2016 under Montgomery v. Louisiana.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Payne Hollow Lane, near Baileyton, Greene County, Tennessee

36.1128, -83.0113

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On April 6, 1997, six young people from Kentucky carjacked and kidnapped the Lillelid family at a rest stop in Greene County, Tennessee, then drove them to a rural road and shot all four. Vidar, Delfina, and Tabitha Lillelid died; two-year-old Peter survived with permanent disabilities. All six perpetrators pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison.
Where did the murders happen?
Payne Hollow Lane, near Baileyton, Greene County, Tennessee.
Who was convicted?
Natasha Cornett (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years; 2002 appeal unsuccessful.), Dean Mullins (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.), Jason Bryant (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.), Joseph Risner (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.), Crystal Sturgill (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years.), and Karen Howell (Convicted of felony murder and attempted murder in March 1998 via guilty plea; sentenced to three life sentences plus 25 years; became eligible for resentencing in 2016 under Montgomery v. Louisiana.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
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Sources

  1. Lillelid murderswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — tncourts.govnews · tncourts.gov · 2026-07-07
  3. Lillelid Murderer Mullins' Sentence Review Is Heardnews · greenevillesun.com · 2026-07-07