Crime tape still surrounds Clay Sherrill’s home on Mark Twain Avenue in Jamestown. He was 88 years old – and the TBI says someone killed him.

“Well, honey – it scared me to death. I was a nervous wreck. I’ve been a nervous wreck ever since yesterday,” said Clara Freeman, a neighbor.

That’s when the TBI said Fentress County authorities asked agents to investigate Sherrill’s murder. Freeman said she asked authorities whose death they were investigating:

“And I said, ‘Tell me it’s not the old man.’ He didn’t open his mouth, but he nodded. And I started balling, so I came back to the house,” said Freeman.

Freeman said Sherrill bought the house about a year ago and was fixing it up with his son. When his wife died about a month ago, she said Sherrill’s son and girlfriend moved in. Freeman said he was a good person who loved to work outside.

“Oh honey, he was out like me all of the time in his garden,” said Freeman.

Freeman and others in the neighborhood said the murder has shocked their small community.

“I worry about my mom and my dad and my handicapped brother because, I mean, they’re not able to get out and get about. I mean, this normally is a little, quiet town. And normally you don’t hear anything like this happening in this town,” said Shannon Markline.

“It’s kind of scary. It makes you want to shut the doors and load your guns up I guess,” said Terry Parsons.

Neighbors said they can’t imagine why anyone would have hurt Sherrill.

“Whoever it was – they’re going to have to face the Lord,” said Freeman.

So far, the TBI hasn’t released how Sherrill died. Investigators say a person of interest is in the hospital in Cumberland County, but no one has been arrested. (WVLT-TV)