CLEVELAND, TN – A Bradley County man is facing charges of first-degree murder following the tragic shooting of his ex-wife, Karen Liner, in her driveway. The incident unfolded in the King’s Court subdivision, painting a somber picture of a neighborhood grappling with shock and grief.
The shooting occurred on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, drawing police to the scene after Karen Liner’s desperate call for help. By the time officers arrived, she lay lifeless in her driveway. A once vibrant real estate agent, Karen was known for her dedication to helping others, a sentiment echoed by those who knew her.
Investigators quickly turned their attention to a surveillance camera across the street. The footage captured a silver sedan pulling into the driveway, followed by a man entering through the garage. In the chilling moments that followed, a 911 dispatcher heard Karen’s pleas, “Get out of my driveway and please don’t do this,” before gunshots rang out.
As police pieced together the sequence of events, a friend of Karen’s arrived and provided a crucial lead. She informed officers that Karen’s ex-husband, Charlton Liner, often visited a residence on Bluff Drive. Acting on this tip, police discovered the sedan in question parked in the garage at that location.
The homeowner on Bluff Drive revealed to police that Charlton had been there earlier, armed with three guns. He recounted Charlton’s haunting confession, “It’s done. I killed her.” The homeowner managed to persuade Charlton to surrender the firearms before police arrived.
Despite attempts to track Charlton, his car was spotted on King Drive but slipped away due to the gated nature of the property. Eventually, law enforcement apprehended him, and he was taken into custody at the Bradley County Jail.
In court, Charlton Craig Liner faced a judge as the state argued he posed a flight risk. Citing the severity of the charges, the judge denied bail, opting to wait until the next hearing, scheduled for February 10, before revisiting the decision.
As the community mourns the loss of Karen Liner, they are left grappling with the senselessness of the act and the void left by her absence.