Brian Lee Hoover of Tennessee and Tommy Gene Randolph of Monroe County have pleaded guilty to the charge of 2nd Degree Murder in connection to the 2020 killing of Monroe County resident Jack Cowan.

Each defendant received a 40-year sentence, with 30 years to serve day-for-day and 10 years suspended, for their roles in Cowan’s murder.

Cowan was reported missing in 2020 after Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies discovered his burned vehicle on the waterway levee in Amory. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a crime scene in the Hamilton/Lackey area by Monroe County deputies, though Cowan’s body was not found at the site.

Investigators later received information suggesting Cowan had been buried in a cemetery somewhere in Monroe County. This prompted an extensive search spanning from Athens to Caledonia, ultimately leading to the recovery of Cowan’s body in a cemetery off Winders Rd in Hamilton.

Authorities expressed gratitude to Cowan’s family for their patience throughout the investigation, and they hope the sentencing brings some closure to the family’s ordeal. Special recognition was also given to District Attorney John Weddle’s Office and ADA Paul Gault for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.

Sheriff Crook’s Office led the investigation.”