Coffee County Mayor Judd Matheny found dead at his home

TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Coffee County Mayor Judd Matheny was found dead inside a vehicle at a home Tuesday morning, just one week shy of his 54th birthday.

The Tullahoma Police Department said officers were sent to a home in the 1900 block of E. Lincoln Street to investigate a possible death. When they arrived, they found Matheny dead at the home.

No cause of death was released.

Matheny had been mayor of Coffee County since September 2022. Before that, he was a state representative for the districts of Coffee, Grundy and Warren counties.

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The police department issued the following statement on Matheny’s death:

“The Tullahoma Police Department expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Coffee
County Mayor Judd Matheny. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and constituents during
this difficult time. Mayor Matheny dedicated his life to serving our community, both as a successful businessman, farmer, and as a committed public servant. His leadership and dedication will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”

Multiple Tullahoma and Coffee County lawmakers who worked with Matheny have since issued statements on their former colleague’s passing, from the state to local levels.

State Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) said she joined those in mourning:

“I join with public servants from across the state in expressing our shock, loss and grief in learning of the untimely passing of our friend Judd Matheny. Prayers for his family as they walk through this time of loss.”

State Rep. Rush Bricken (R-Tullahoma), who took over Matheny’s seat after Matheny ran for Congress in Tennessee’s 6th District in 2019, said the following:

“I am so deeply saddened by Judd’s death. I offer his family my deepest sympathy. Judd and his family are very close to mine. We loved them all. Judd was not only a very good and respected state representative but he has provided outstanding leadership to our county. He will be missed terribly.”

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House Minority Leader Karen Camper (D-Memphis), who served with Matheny in the state house issued the following statement:

“It was an honor to serve with him. We worked together on the first ever expungement bill in the Tennessee General Assembly. He signed on to be a co-sponsor and when I had to leave to tend to a family emergency, he presented the bill on the House floor and got it passed. Even though we were on different sides of the aisle, we were able to come together to do what was right for the citizens of Tennessee. My sincere prayers and condolences go out to his family.”

Tullahoma Mayor Ray Knowis said the following:

“I regret the passing of a colleague and friend who always felt that cooperation was in the best interest of both Coffee County and the city of Tullahoma.”

Lane Curlee, the former mayor of Tullahoma, also issued a statment:

“Judd was a friend and will be missed. I know he was working hard to make good things happen for the people of Coffee County.”

The investigation has since been handed over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, according to officials. TBI confirmed they were investigating at the request of 14th Judicial District Attorney General Craig Northcott in a statement to News 2, saying an autopsy will be conducted and the investigation remains “active and ongoing.” A TBI spokesperson said they were working with both the DA’s office and Tullahoma police on the death investigation.

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