Tennessee Investigator Seeks Public Records on Christy Carroll Case

Work continues behind the scenes as family seeks new autopsy and investigation into 1995 death

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Christy Carroll Investigation has lingered in the shadows of Hohenwald, Tennessee, for over three decades, leaving a family desperate for answers and a community still whispering questions. Christy's body was found in 1995, but the official ruling of accidental death has never sat well with her loved ones, who believe the investigation was inadequate and that her death may have been a homicide. Now, a private investigator has filed public records requests to access the case file, while Christy's daughter leads efforts to exhume her body for an independent autopsy.

Why it matters

The Christy Carroll case has haunted the small town of Hohenwald for over 30 years, with many in the community convinced that the official ruling of accidental death was wrong. The family's long-running quest for justice and the truth about Christy's demise has highlighted concerns about the quality of the original investigation, the competence of the medical examiner, and the potential influence of small-town dynamics in how the case was handled.

The details

Christy Carroll was an 18-year-old mother who was found dead beside her family's driveway on February 6, 1995. She had been out with friends the night before and was last seen with two men, Daniel Lay and Eric Amacher, who claimed they dropped her off at home. However, Christy's body was not found until the next day, and the autopsy by the controversial Dr. Charles Harlan ruled her death as accidental, citing hypothermia and alcohol intoxication, despite evidence of injuries that raised suspicions of foul play. No charges were ever filed, and the case was closed, but Christy's family has never accepted the official ruling.

  • On February 6, 1995, Christy Carroll's lifeless body was discovered beside the driveway of the home she shared with her parents in Lewis County.
  • In January 2025, the District Attorney's office contacted Christy's family to say they would review the file, but months passed with no further updates or communication.
  • Last week, Tennessee investigator Burton S. Staggs filed public records requests with the DA's office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to access the Christy Carroll file.

The players

Christy Lynn Carroll

An 18-year-old mother who was found dead in 1995 in Hohenwald, Tennessee, in a case that has remained unsolved for over three decades.

Daniel Lay

One of the two men Christy was last seen with on the night of her death, who claimed they dropped her off at home.

Eric Amacher

The other man Christy was last seen with on the night of her death, who also claimed they dropped her off at home.

Burton S. Staggs

A Tennessee investigator who has been quietly pushing forward on the Christy Carroll case and has recently filed public records requests to access the case file.

Britney Carroll

Christy's daughter, who has taken the lead in aiming for real closure on her mother's case, including launching a petition for a new autopsy.

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What they’re saying

“As he put it, 'Christy's daughter, Britney Carroll, has taken the lead in aiming for real closure.'”

— Burton S. Staggs, Tennessee investigator (theunionstar.com)

What’s next

Britney Carroll has retained a lawyer to handle the petition process through the chancery court, and the family hopes for a court date soon to exhume Christy's body for an independent autopsy.

The takeaway

The Christy Carroll case highlights the need for thorough, unbiased investigations, especially in small-town settings where personal connections and dynamics can influence the handling of sensitive cases. Christy's family has persisted for over 30 years in their quest for the truth, and their efforts to exhume her body and conduct a new autopsy could finally provide the answers they've been seeking.