UPDATE: Police identify victim in Bradley County death investigation

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Police have wrapped a Bradley County home in crime tape to further investigate a possible homicide reported earlier today.

Detectives with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office were called to the home for a possible stabbing.

When they arrived, they found 54-year-old John William Self dead in the home.

The home belongs to family members of the primary suspect Russell Therkildsen.

John William Self is said to have been visiting the home when Therkildsen stabbed him.

Shortly after the reported stabbing, police received a tip that stated someone had taken off through the woods. This led to the search for Therkildsen.

Therkildsen’s cousin did not want to discuss the investigation, but her fiancé did make a few comments on today’s events.

“I was working on the car when I found out about it. I don’t know nothing about what was going on. I just know it’s crazy.” said Dylan Traffanstedt, the cousin’s fiancé.

“I have never seen Russell get angry. I mean me and him have gotten into arguments, but nothing like what is going on here.”

Bradley County’s Sheriff Eric Watson said “We conducted a man hunt. We are right the border of Polk and Bradley County line. Polk County officials also joined us. That subject was located. He was questioned at Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. We are treating this as a possible homicide.”

Sheriff Eric Watson believes this is a pretty good area to live in.

He states, “Matter of fact to my knowledge, we’ve had no recent calls there concerning any type of violence. I have talked to several of the neighbors today in the last few hours and they are very surprised that this would happen in their neighborhood.”

The cousin’s fiancé says he never felt in danger.

“I think it was an isolated incident. But I feel like this could have happened to anybody really. Especially the way everything has been going around the world, in Cleveland, in general. it could have happened to anybody.”

Traffanstedt does say he is surprised.

“It is sad, but I think everybody is more shocked than anything.”

BRADLEY COUNTY, (WDEF) – Police say that after receiving a 911 call regarding a possible stabbing at a residence on Oakland Ln, patrol units discovered a deceased male.

Investigators say the victim is 54-year-old John William Self.

Detectives are currently processing the scene and interviewing witnesses to determine the circumstances which led to the death of the victim, and our investigation is still in the early stages.

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office has taken 26-year-old Russell Lee Therkildsen in custody to be questioned as a suspect for the death investigation.

Deputies appear to have received a tip that someone had ran out of the mobile home which led to a search for Therkildsen.

Details are limited at this time, but Sheriff Eric Watson says they will be at the home for most of the night to continue investigating the case.

News 12 is following this story and will provide updates when they are available.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – Detectives are currently conducting a death investigation at a residence on Oakland Ln. S.E in Bradley County.

Officials with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office tell News 12 it is a murder investigation.

News 12 has a reporter headed to the scene now. More information will be released when it is available to us.

Detectives are currently conducting a death investigation at a residence on Oakland Ln. S.E. pic.twitter.com/gPUdZOKzuy

— Bradley Co. Sheriff (@bcso911) May 8, 2017

Death investigation underway in Bradley County on Oakland Lane SE. pic.twitter.com/L5TlQscFVp

— Robyn Estabrook (@RobynWDEF) May 8, 2017