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Justin Dean VanderEcken

Another man has been arrested in connection with the ongoing attempted murder investigation northwest of Knoxville.

According to court records, Justin Dean VanderEcken, 31, of Melcher-Dallas, met with Dalton Sharp and offered to reward him and Keaton Armstrong for the murder of the victim. After the attack with a baseball bat had been completed, Armstrong and Sharp met with VanderEcken and provided proof of the crime.

In the course of investigations, VanderEcken was interviewed and arrested. VanderEcken is charged with attempted murder, robbery in the first degree and willful injury-causing serious injury.

The 18-year-old Armstrong and 19-year-old Sharp have also each been charged with attempted to commit murder, willful injury, and 1st degree robbery, and were arrested over the weekend.

In the early morning hours of April 30th, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office learned of a physical altercation that occurred Northwest of Knoxville in rural Marion County. When Deputies responded to the area, they recovered evidence that was consistent with a serious bodily injury. The victim is has been moved out of critical care and is in fair condition.

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Dalton Sharp

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Keaton Armstrong