KNOXVILLE, TN – A chilling act of violence unfolded in Blount County, where a son has been sentenced to nearly four decades in prison for the brutal murder of his mother and her beloved pet cat. The case, marked by grim details and a confounding absence of motive, rattled the quiet community south of Knoxville.
Zachary Justin Hayes, 27, pleaded guilty Friday to multiple charges, including second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, aggravated cruelty to animals, and intentional killing of an animal. Judge Tammy M. Harrington of Blount County’s 5th Circuit Court handed down a 37-year prison sentence, closing the chapter on a crime that devastated a family and shocked neighbors.
The violence took place inside a home along Samples Road in Louisville, Tenn., in September 2023. Deputies responding to the scene found 63-year-old Kimberly Hayes dead after suffering multiple stab wounds. Her cat was also discovered slain at the scene, further compounding the tragedy inside the blood-splattered house.
Investigators scoured the residence and located several knives stained with blood, one of which had snapped in half during the attack. The evidence painted a picture of a violent struggle and a crime scene that left even seasoned law enforcement rattled.
Authorities quickly determined that the case involved both aggravated burglary and homicide. Attention soon turned to the victim’s son, who became the primary suspect in the hours after the grim discovery. Hayes was tracked down by the U.S. Marshals Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force and taken into custody the following day at his Knoxville apartment.
Throughout the investigation, Hayes offered little insight into the reason behind the gruesome act. According to officials, he admitted to the crime during a lengthy custodial interrogation, saying he killed his mother with no specific motive or premeditation. During the interview, Hayes described stabbing his mother as she sat in her living room watching television. He reportedly confessed that afterward, he calmly finished watching television himself before going to bed, attempting to carry on as if nothing had occurred.
Neighbors reported seeing Hayes’ red Mercedes parked outside the victim’s home on the night before her body was discovered. When Kimberly Hayes failed to show up for work the following day, friends grew concerned. A co-worker visited the house and uncovered the tragic scene, triggering a response from law enforcement.
An autopsy later revealed that Kimberly Hayes died from multiple stab wounds to her neck and head. Medical examiners placed her time of death sometime late in the evening of September 7 or the early hours of the following day.
After initial police efforts, family members found Kimberly’s car outside Zachary Hayes’ Knoxville residence. He returned home late on September 9, where he was taken into custody without resistance. Family and investigators alike grappled with the senselessness of the crime, noting the absence of warning signs or clear rationale.
In previous court appearances, Hayes was visibly emotional, breaking into tears upon seeing images of his mother’s body. He told the court he was frightened on the night of the killing, offering little comfort or explanation to those seeking answers.
Hayes received credit for several days already spent in detention while awaiting trial. With his sentence set, he will remain behind bars as the community and his family work to recover from the shocking chapter that unfolded last fall.