Soldier Charged in Wife's Slaying in Clarksville

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Soldier Charged in Wife's Slaying in Clarksville

Written by Jake Lowary

Thursday, 10 September 2009 08:41

September 9, 2009 - A soldier scheduled to report for duty Tuesday was charged by Clarksville police with killing his wife earlier in the day.

The soldier, Jonathan Clyde Downing, 31, had fled the slaying scene then had a two-hour standoff with police in Robertson County, authorities said.

Sena Marie Downing, 25, was found dead by police after they were called to 1705 Autumnwood Blvd. for a welfare check just after 3 a.m. Officers arrived to find the front door open. CPD spokesman Jim Knoll said in a news release she was shot and found dead in the garage.

Downing's husband, Jonathan Downing, was charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death. He was given no opportunity for bond.

Neighbors said they heard multiple gunshots just after 3 a.m., and about 20 minutes later, crime scene tape lined the area, which was still up in the small, quiet neighborhood on Clarksville's north side around 1 p.m.

According to Maj. Pat Seiber, public affairs officer for the 101st Airborne Division, Jonathan Downing was scheduled to report for duty Tuesday with the 20th Replacement Company but did not sign in with his unit.

He previously served at Fort Campbell with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and has deployed twice to Iraq, Seiber said. His previous assignment was as a drill sergeant at Fort Knox, Ky.

"He was kind of in between assignments," Seiber said.

After responding to the scene, CPD put out an alert for a charcoal or gray 2007 Ford Explorer with Fort Campbell decals.

The vehicle was later located near Heads Church on Heads Church Road in Robertson County, where Tennessee Highway Patrol officers found the vehicle abandoned. They later found Downing, who "resisted coming out of the woods" for about two hours before they officially took him into custody, Knoll said.

"He was in the wooded area and they located him ... and they had to keep talking to him," Knoll said.

Knoll did not say if Downing was armed when he was captured.

Neighbors said the couple often had heated arguments in view of others, the most recent coming just a few days ago in the front yard. The neighborhood was shocked to hear about the killing.

"It's a tragedy for the neighborhood, and for Clarksville as a whole," one neighbor said.

A check of Jonathan Downing's criminal history shows he was charged in Montgomery County with domestic assault in February 2006. That charge was dismissed in August 2007, court records show.

CPD Detective Alan Charvis is investigating the killing, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call Charvis at 931-648-0656, ext. 4013, or the tips line at 931-645-8477.

Jake Lowary covers military affairs. He can be reached at 245-0719 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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