23 Year Old Courtney Cash, Great Nice of Legendary Country Singer Johnny Cash, Stabbed to Death in Tennessee … Wayne Masciarella Arrested & Charged With First Degree Murder

Great Niece of Johnny Cash stabbed to Death …

23 year old Courtney Cash, the great niece of the late legendary country singer Johnny Cash, has been stabbed to death at her home in Baxter, Tennessee. Courtney Cash was found stabbed to death and stuffed inside a large wooden box in her home on 8129 Rice Road on Wednesday morning. The man who lived with her, identified as William Austin Johnson, was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with multiple stab wounds.  Johnson was able to get out of the home with the couple’s young daughter and drive himself to a hospital in White County. The child was not hurt.

Andrews said the pair had gone out with a friend before an altercation took place in the house where Johnson and Cash lived with their young child. The friend, identified as Wayne Gary Masciarella, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Johnson escaped the attack and took the child with him before driving to the hospital, Andrews said. The scene inside the house was “somewhat bloody,” Andrews told reporters at a news conference.

“There was a struggle,” the sheriff said.

Courtney Cash – photo from Facebook

Wayne Masciarella of Cape May, NJ was arrested in  Cookeville, TN and charged with first degree murder. Masciarella was booked and held without bond into the Putnam County Jail. He will have a preliminary hearing on April 21. Masciarella has been previously arrested more than 20 times in Putnam County. According to News Channel 5, Masciarella’s rap sheet includes charges for aggravated assault, possession and public intoxication.

Wayne Masciarella – Facebook

A 27-year-old man has been charged with fatally stabbing the great niece of legendary country entertainer Johnny Cash.

Wayne Masciarella of Cape May, N.J. was charged with first-degree murder in the Wednesday death of 23-year-old Courtney Cash. He was also accused of stabbing her boyfriend, William Austin Johnson.

Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews said Masciarella had gotten into a dispute with Johnson and Cash at their Baxter home before he allegedly stabbed them both and fled. The three were believed to be friends, the sheriff said.

Tommy Cash, the brother of Johnny Cash and the grandfather of Courtney, issued a statement on the tragic event:

“We ask for your prayers for the Cash family at this time. Courtney and her boyfriend are beloved members of my family and like you we have a lot of questions and emotions that we are beginning to sort through today. We ask you to respect our privacy and appreciate all the support that the public and media has always offered me and my family, as we handle the loss of our grand-daughter. We are completely heartbroken.”

UPDATE I: According to local Sheriff David Andrews, the crime could have been a direct or indirect result of drugs.

Sheriff Andrews said he can’t comment on the murder weapon or a possible motive in the case, but he said it could be drug-related.

“This was a senseless, tragic death of a young lady whose life was probably taken as a direct or indirect result of drugs, and that’s just the world we live in. It’s just unfortunate that our people in our society lean so heavily on drugs to get through life,” Andrews said.