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Tennessee woman Angela Kilgore, 51, is accused of killing a pawn shop owner during a robbery, then setting the store on fire to destroy evidence. She is facing trial for a slew of charges, including first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and aggravated arson.
Kilgore allegedly went to Valley Pawn Brokers on May 17, 2016 and tried to rob owner Jerry Ridge, 72, at gunpoint. An autopsy reportedly showed that Ridge was shot and stabbed. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations said Kilgore then set the shop on fire “in an effort to destroy potential evidence in the case.” The only items that she was believed to have stolen were guns.
Kilgore was picked up on an unrelated warrant for allegedly violating the conditions of her release for a past conviction. She was found with more than a dozen of firearms in her car at the time, prosecutor Steve Strain said, which were traced to the pawn shop.
In addition to the first degree murder, robbery, and arson charges, Kilgore is charged with felony murder, employing a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony, theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Kilgore had quite an interesting previous arrest for an attempted bank robbery in January 2004. According to court records, she went to a bank and demanded $500,000 in cash. The bank’s vice president apparently told her they didn’t have that kind of money available, but offered $25,000 and the rest via check, if she filled out the necessary loan paperwork. Kilgore went along with it, records show, and while she filled out her information, police showed up to arrest her.