Tuesday was day two in the murder trial of Terry Lee McKinney in Cherokee County in front of Judge Shaunathan Bell.

McKinney is accused of killing and dismembering Leroy “Pete” Foster, also from Cedar Bluff, in March of 2015. 

Family members and friends of Foster took the stand in the morning, recounting the events which led to a missing persons report being filed. 

It was stated that Foster was last seen in the company of McKinney, after being picked up at his home, in preparation for doing work for McKinney at his residence on Rocky Ford Point Road in Cedar Bluff.  After Foster failed to return home that night and still didn’t appear the following day, a houseguest of Foster testified he went to McKinney’s home and was told by by him that he’d dropped Foster off at a local convenience store. 

Another friend of Foster’s stated that she spoke with McKinney – who told her, he had taken Foster back home.  Yet another family member stated he had gone to McKinney’s home and after knocking at the door, heard someone say “Who is it,”; when the caller said “I’m lookin’ for Pete” there was no further reply from inside and no one ever answered the door.

McKinney’s Home was seriously damaged by fire earlier this year

Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Chief Investigator Josh Summerford took the stand as well, discussing the events leading up to McKinney’s arrest.

The discussion included execution of the search warrant at his residence, with Summerford describing in detail what was found at the location, including blood and tissue evidence, the chainsaw believed to have been used to dismember Foster’s body and cleaning supplies – in addition to other items.  Evidence was found both in the home and in McKinney’s car.

Discussion was also given to the various body parts found alongside County Road 82.

After breaking for lunch shortly after 11:30am, court will re-convene at 1:00pm.