Suspected killer of Collegedale man told friend the victim was a rapist
Kian Andrew Neal
UPDATE: An affidavit shows Collegedale police have been building a murder case for weeks.
Last week, they charged Kian Neal with the murder of Robert Locke.
Police say Neal told a friend that the victim was a rapist.
Locke is on the sex offender registry for a child molestation case in 2003.
Investigators say they traced DNA evidence from the victim to Neal’s car, a pillow in the back seat, sawhorses in the back seat and a knife.
Neal faces charges of homicide, burglary, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and death under suspicious circumstances.
He was arrested on June 12, 2026.
COLLEGEDALE, Tenn. (WDEF) – On Saturday, the Collegedale Police Department arrested a subject in connection with the homicide of 56-year-old Robert George Locke.
According to Collegedale Police, 56-year-old Robert George Locke was reported missing in late May 2026.
They say on May 24, Locke was reported missing after family members stated they had not seen or heard from him since May 21, 2026.
His last known location was his home in Collegedale.
A multi-agency investigation was worked by the Hamilton County, Rhea County, and Bradley County agencies.
According to Collegedale Police, on June 12, 2026, Kian Andrew Neal was arrested and charged with the following:
Criminal Homicide
Especially Aggravated Burglary
Abuse of a Corpse
Tampering with Evidence
Death under suspicious, unusual or unnatural circumstances, all in connection with the death of Robert George Locke.
Neal is currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail on bonds totaling 1.2 million dollars.
This investigation is ongoing.
No further details are available.
