Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Rochelle Pronounced Guilty In 2006 Death
A West Point man was handed a guilty verdict 
Wednesday morning in connection with the death of a man who had been house-sitting for his parents in 2006.
Members of the jury that heard testimony in the August 17, 2006 death of David Folger returned a guilty verdict against Jeffrey Leo Rochelle, 24, of 134 Aaron Branch Road on one count of voluntary manslaughter.
Rochelle was arrested in October of 2010 on one count of first degree murder in Folger’s death. Folger, 47, of West Point, was found lying on the front porch of 97 Chisholm Creek Road. Police reports indicated that he had been severely beaten. He was transported for medical attention but died from his injuries eight days later.
Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a press release in October. They said their investigation revealed that Folger had been house-sitting while Rochelle’s parents were away. They reported that “Rochelle didn’t want Folger in the home and proceeded to beat him…”
Jurors opted to convict Rochelle on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled in Lawrence County Circuit Court for Monday, October 3, 2011.
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