Someone Murdered a Teenage Boy and Sexually Assaulted His Mother. 27 Years Later, Police Have a Suspect

Nearly three decades after a teenage boy was found murdered and his mother sexually assaulted inside a Tennessee home, authorities have arrested a suspect.

George Robinson has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 1997 killing of 17-year-old James Hutson after his DNA was allegedly connected to the crime scene, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Nov. 22.

On Sept. 6, 1997, the teenage boy was found stabbed to death and his mother, Mary Hutson, sexually assaulted in their Kingsport, Tenn., home, authorities said. DNA evidence was collected at the scene and submitted for testing. However, no match was found and the case eventually went cold.

WJHL reports Mary passed away about a year later.

In 2023, investigators reopened the case and began reviewing evidence with help from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. That May, the DNA evidence from 1997 was sent to Othram Labs, a genetic genealogy company based in Texas, and Robinson was identified as a potential suspect, per the release.

Authorities said they recently obtained a DNA sample from Robinson and compared it to the DNA evidence taken from the crime scene in 1997. Forensic scientists then alleged that Robinson’s DNA was a confirmed match to the DNA evidence.

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On Nov. 20, a grand jury indicted Robinson on the murder charges. According to WJHL-TV, First Judicial District Attorney General Barry Staubus said Robinson has not been charged in connection with Mary’s sexual assault due to the statute of limitations.

When authorities tried to arrest Robinson that morning, they said he barricaded himself inside his Kingsport, Tenn., apartment. The county SWAT team arrived and tried to negotiate with Robinson, but he “refused to cooperate,” authorities alleged.

After several hours, authorities were able to enter the apartment, where Robinson shot himself, per the release. Authorities said he was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but did not share details regarding his condition.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.