Nashville, Tennessee --- At approximately 3:15 a.m., State Trooper Matt Blair stopped to assist a stranded motorist on I-75, near mile marker 44 north bound in McMinn County.

Trooper Blair noticed the windshield of the vehicle was shattered and both the male driver and female passenger appeared to have blood on their clothing. Further questioning led Trooper Blair to suspect that the stories of both occupants were not matching. Eventually, information was obtained leading to an address in Bradley County, 320 Country Club Drive, Apartment 2, where investigators discovered the body of a deceased white male.

Following the discovery, the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Crime Scene Unit were notified and responded to the scene.

The male driver was taken into custody for driving under the influence and transported to the McMinn County Jail by McMinn County Sheriff’s Officers. The female passenger is being held in the Bradley County jail as Bradley County authorities investigate the homicide.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.