Lovell Faces Several Charges When Released From Hospital
By Dwayne Page
28 year old Karen Lynn Lovell is in far more trouble with the law now than she was before her jail escape Friday morning.
Lovell, serving a sentence of 11 months and 29 days for telephone harassment and stalking, now faces charges of escape, reckless endangerment with a weapon and possibly several other offenses.
Sheriff Lloyd Emmons says Lovell is in stable condition at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga and her prognosis for recovery is good.
Lovell was shot once in the right temple by Captain Mark Collins after she failed to heed his commands to drop the 40 caliber Glock handgun she held while standing on the back porch of Bill Ferrell's home at 133 King Ridge Road shortly after 11:00 a.m. Friday. Lovell pointed the gun at Captain Collins while he was talking to her and she pointed it at the head of her three year old son Kaden, who she was also holding during the standoff.
Sheriff Emmons says just before the shooting, Lovell told Captain Collins that "You're fixing to work a murder/suicide".
Captain Collins pleaded with Lovell not to hurt the child saying " If you're going to shoot someone, shoot me."
Sheriff Emmons says Lovell then said "I'm going to kill him (the child)". He says Lovell then closed her eyes and gritted her teeth and Captain Collins, thinking she was about to pull the trigger, fired the shot that struck Lovell in the head as she stood between the glass storm door and the wooden door to the Ferrell home. Glass from the storm door shattered as Lovell fell to the ground.
Captain Collins then ran toward Lovell and grabbed the child. Sheriff Emmons says Kaden was not seriously injured.
Lovell pleaded guilty on February 28 to two counts of telephone harassment and one count of stalking. She received three sentences of 11 months and 29 days to run concurrently. She was indicted in December 2001 for harassing a Smithville woman.
Court documents indicate Lovell was sent to Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga earlier this year for an evaluation to determine whether she was competent to stand trial.
The documents say a psychologist initially found Lovell incompetent but believed her mental health could improve with treatment. About two weeks later, after treatment, Lovell significantly improved and was found capable of understanding the charges against her. No specifics were given on her mental illness or treatment.
