Man Arrested After Fatal Stabbing of Mother During Domestic Incident, Police Say

LOUISVILLE, Tenn. A son is accused of fatally stabbing his mother at their home while she was watching television, killing her cat, and then continuing to watch the show before going to bed, according to authorities.

Deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible deceased person at a residence on September 8, 2023. When first responders arrived, they found 63-year-old Kimberly Hayes dead inside her home with multiple stab wounds that investigators said were consistent with a homicide.

Investigators also reported finding a cat inside the residence that had died as a result of being stabbed.

Authorities identified Kimberly Hayes’ son, 25-year-old Zachary Justin Hayes, as the primary suspect in the case. He was arrested and charged with multiple homicide-related offenses. A recorded pre-booking interview was later played in court on January 30, 2024, during which Hayes described his account of what happened.

“I was not looking forward to it, planning it,” Hayes said in reference to the killing.

According to investigators, Hayes told police he did not have a specific reason for stabbing his mother, which occurred while she was sitting in the living room watching television. Hayes stated that after killing his mother, he poured himself a drink, finished watching the television program that was on, and then went to sleep.

Kimberly Hayes’ body was discovered by a concerned coworker who went to her home after she failed to show up for work. The investigation remains part of the court proceedings as the case moves forward.