WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
Clarksville police make a shocking discovery inside the home of a 63 year old man.
Investigators say Lenzo Grooms had a shrine dedicated to a nine year old girl.
Police are calling it the strangest thing they've ever seen.
"It was just something I'd never seen before," says Clarksville Police officer Jim Knoll.
Police spent all day on Oak Street in Clarksville. They were surrounding Lenzo Grooms' residence.
Pictures show his front room covered in writing and photographs. Words describe a nine year old as "my queen, my life, my world."
"It sort of reminded me of any type of creepy movie that you could watch, and you feel the hair go on the back of your neck," says Officer Knoll.
Police say Grooms had a photography business, and a family friend had brought the child to his home on several occasions.
Grooms allegedly gave the girl money and gifts, and investigators say he touched the child inappropriately.
The shrine is complete with a small throne and offering basket.
A sign reads "The Neo-Rastafarian Church of God in Christ."
"We have people who've been here 25-30 years and they say this is one of the most bizarre things they've ever seen," says Knoll.
Several neighbors heard about the case from FOX 17 News.
"I look out my back door and I can see his house. I got a little baby. It's crazy to think that there's a guy that's doing that like that close," says neighbor Grant Newsom.
"It reminds me of a stalker. Someone obsessed, addicted," says neighbor Darion Harris.
Clarksville Police are concerned there may be other victims. That's why they've been on the scene going through everything very carefully.
Police say Grooms offered to take pictures of other neighborhood girls for $20.
Grooms calls himself the prophet, and the case may not end with the shrine.
"If there are advertisements out looking for female children to take pictures of, then there's always concern there were other female victims," says Knoll.
Lenzo Grooms is in the Montgomery County jail on a $106,000 bond.
In addition to the charges of sexual battery, assault, and trespassing, Grooms also has a previous conviction in Florida for second degree murder.
For news updates follow John Dunn on twitter @WZTVJohnDunn
Friday, February 8 2013, 09:53 PM CST
Tennessee News
2 appellate court judges are stepping down
May 24, 2013 21:29 GMT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Two Tennessee appellate court judges have notified Gov. Bill Haslam that they will not run for another term on the bench in the August 2014 retention election.
Patricia J. Cottrell, a judge on the Court of Appeals, and Joseph M. Tipton, who sits on the Court of Criminal Appeals bench, will both leave after September of next year.
The announcements come after the state legislature left Tennessee without a way to replace judges who step down or die when a commission expires at the end of next month.
Members of the soon-to-be-defunct Judicial Nominating Commission will make recommendations for replacements to give to Haslam before the panel expires. Haslam will appoint the replacements from those recommendations.
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