September 6, 1997

• Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to a home in the 400 block of Rock Springs Road in Kingsport, Tennessee.
• Seventeen-year-old James Hutson was found stabbed to death inside the residence.
• James Hutson’s mother, Mary Hutson, was sexually assaulted by an unknown male.
• Detectives processed the crime scene and collected forensic evidence.
• Evidence was submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for testing.
• A suspect DNA profile was developed and entered into CODIS, but no match was identified.

1998

• Mary Hutson reportedly died about a year after the attack. This should be cited cautiously unless you have an obituary or official record confirming the date and cause of death. Secondary coverage reports that Mary died about a year later.

2011

• Investigators publicly discussed Jonathan Slemp as a possible person of interest in the James Hutson case after Slemp was charged in separate Sullivan County homicide cases. WCYB reported that investigators said Slemp may also have been connected to the 1997 James Hutson murder investigation. Slemp was not charged in James Hutson’s murder.

2023

• Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office detectives reopened the James Hutson case.
• Detectives reviewed evidence with TBI agents as part of the TBI Cold Case Initiative.
• Law enforcement partnered with Othram to determine whether advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help identify the unknown suspect.
• Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas.
• Othram developed a comprehensive DNA profile using Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing.
• Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy team generated investigative leads for law enforcement.

November 20, 2024

• A Sullivan County Grand Jury indicted George Robinson on murder charges connected to the 1997 death of James Hutson.
• Deputies attempted to arrest Robinson at his apartment on Hillvue Drive in Kingsport.
• Robinson barricaded himself inside the apartment.
• Sullivan County SWAT responded and attempted to negotiate with Robinson.
• After several hours, SWAT entered the apartment.
• Robinson shot himself and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

November 22, 2024

• Othram publicly announced that George Robinson had been identified as the suspect in the 1997 homicide of James Hutson and assault of Mary Hutson.
• Othram reported that Robinson’s DNA sample was compared by TBI forensic scientists to the DNA profile developed from the 1997 crime scene evidence and confirmed as a match.
• Othram described the case as Sullivan County’s first suspect identification involving forensic genetic genealogy and the 20th publicly announced Tennessee case using Othram technology to identify an unknown individual.

Records

• James Hutson Murder Media Release
• Othram case announcement, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in a 1997 Homicide and Assault
• Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office release regarding George Robinson’s indictment and attempted arrest
• Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announcement regarding the 1997 James Hutson homicide and Mary Hutson assault
• Any available court records related to State of Tennessee v. George Robinson

James Hutson Murder Media Release