Nearly five years after a fisherman unearthed the skeletal remains of a woman on the banks of Percy Priest Lake, an Old Hickory Man has confessed to the murder. Luther Nelson Lynch, who was arrested more than a year ago in connection with the homicide, told police that he strangled the still unidentified woman whom he didn’t know, then buried her in a shallow grave. Police believe the woman was a prostitute, and they have gone to extraordinary lengths to identify her. The Metro Police Department has even solicited the help of the Wyoming attorney general’s office to help recreate her facial features and hairstyle.
Wachtel dies
Dave Wachtel, one of the most important figures in the history of Nashville’s restaurant industry, died unexpectedly of a stroke at the age of 59. Wachtel was once the chief executive officer at Shoney’s, who later took over a small restaurant on 21st Avenue and developed it into the publicly owned O’Charley’s chain. At the time of his death, the outspoken and energetic Wachtel owned a number of restaurants—Merchants, Mere Bulles, Uncle Bud’s and Santa Fe Cattle Co.
A middle man
State Rep. Rob Briley, a second-term Nashville Democrat, has been quietly elected to the semi-lofty Democratic “floor leader” post of the state House. He replaces Franklin Democrat Mike Williams, who resigned his House seat two months ago to lobby on behalf of petroleum interests. Briley, 35, represents East Nashville and is one of the few white House members from Middle Tennessee who supports an income tax.
