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A Carter County man captured in Louisiana last week on warrants related to a murder investigation has been returned to Carter County, and a third suspect has also been charged in connection with the murder.

Officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office transported Jim Chambers, 37, of Roan Mountain, from New Orleans, and he was booked into the Carter County Detention Center Thursday night. He is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. Chambers is currently held without bond at the detention center.

CCSO officers also transported back a third suspect in the investigation into the death of Edward Elliott, who was captured with Chambers in New Orleans. Amanda Brooke Quillen, 30, of Hampton, was booked into the Carter County Detention Center and is charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and coercion or persuasion of a witness. Quillen is currently held under a $350,000 bond at the detention center.

Chambers and Quillen were captured in Louisiana on May 24 with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans office, the Louisiana State Police, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Chambers and Quillen are the second and third persons to be charged in connection with the death of Mr. Elliott. On May 15, investigators of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrested Joey Lee Guinn, 46, of Mike Clawson Road, Hampton, and charged him with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. Guinn is currently being held at the detention center under a $5 million bond.

The charges against Guinn, Chambers, and Quillen stem from an investigation that began on March 31 after family members reported 64-year-old Edward Elliott, of Roan Mountain, missing. Mr. Elliott had last been seen in either late January or early February.

An anonymous tip led investigators to develop Guinn and Chambers as suspects in the disappearance of Mr. Elliott. On May 15, officers of the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, along with assistance from the Elizabethton Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, executed search warrants at the home of Guinn and nearby properties. Investigators also received assistance from Greene County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Wilhoit and his K-9 partner Ruger, who is a cadaver detection canine. Other agencies assisting at the scene included the District Attorney’s Office, the Carter County Rescue Squad, and the William L. Jenkins Forensic Center.

During the search of the property, cadaver K-9 Ruger alerted to the presence of human remains, and the area was then probed and scanned with a metal detector which indicated the presence of a metal object beneath the soil. The area was excavated, and a large freezer was found. When the freezer was opened, investigators discovered it contained human remains believed to be those of Mr. Elliott.

“This has been a lengthy investigation, and it is still ongoing at this time,” Sheriff Mike Fraley said. “I am proud of the hard work my officers and investigators have put into this investigation and their diligence in pursuing justice for Mr. Elliott and his family.

“These arrests are the culmination of teamwork and partnerships with my department, the Elizabethton Police Department, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and we received a tremendous amount of assistance from other agencies such as the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Louisiana State Police, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Fraley continued. “We also cannot stress enough how important the help we received from the public was in investigating this case. The tips and information we received helped to move this investigation along, developing the suspects, and ultimately capture two suspects who had fled to try and avoid prosecution for their crimes.”