Man accused of killing 70-year-old woman in Pulaski Co. church said he needed ‘fresh start’

dwight-bell-09-14
dwight-bell-09-14

Details have emerged in the murder of a pastor’s widow in a Pulaski County church.

Dwight Bell, 41, had a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, where detectives said the homeless Bell was looking for a “fresh start” by killing 70-year-old Carolyn New, and then stealing her car and cell phone.

Police said Bell killed New after he went to Denham Street Baptist Church on the afternoon of August 24 under the guise of looking for food. New, who was cleaning the church, walked to the church’s activity center and gave Bell some potato chips. Only moments later Bell slashed New’s neck, according to multiple media reports.

Previous reports have said Bell was frequently in and out of the church, and had attended a few services recently.

Surveillance videos of Bell in Lexington and Indianapolis, where police recovered New’s vehicle, are in police custody. Bell was arrested in Dandridge, Tennessee last week. Somerset police say he confessed to the murder.

The judge sent the case against Bell to the grand jury to determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.

Bell is being held in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000