The headlines in Cleveland, Tennessee, don't usually look like this. It’s a place where people know their neighbors, where high school football scores matter, and where "well-known realtor" is a title that carries genuine weight. But when the name Charlton Craig Liner Cleveland TN started circulating in January 2025, it wasn't for a real estate deal or a community fundraiser. It was for something much darker that left the Bradley County community reeling.
Honestly, the details coming out of Arthur Court NW were the stuff of a true-crime podcast, except it was happening right in a quiet subdivision. Karen Liner, a staple in the local Rotary Club and a successful realtor, was found dead in her driveway. Her ex-husband, Charlton Craig Liner—most folks just call him Craig—was arrested shortly after.
The Morning of January 27, 2025
You've probably heard about the 911 call. It’s one of those recordings that police say is "bone-chilling" and actually means it. Dispatchers reportedly heard Karen yelling, "Please stop, Craig," and "Get out of my driveway." Then, the sound of gunshots. By the time officers arrived at the scene, Karen had been fatally shot in the head.
Police didn't have to look far for a lead. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera caught a silver Lincoln MKZ pulling into the driveway and leaving around the time of the shooting.
A Confession to a Friend?
One of the weirdest—and frankly, most damning—parts of the initial investigation involved a man named Jay Collins. According to court documents, Craig allegedly drove to a home on Bluff Drive right after the shooting.
- He supposedly told Collins, "It's done, I killed her."
- He allegedly had three guns with him.
- He reportedly asked Collins to take the guns inside; Collins refused to take the murder weapon but did help police locate it later on a trailer tire.
Craig was eventually spotted in a Range Rover and taken into custody at the Bradley County Justice Center. He's been held there without bond ever since, facing charges of first-degree murder and felony murder.
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A Dark Family History
People in Cleveland started whispering almost immediately about the "Liner legacy." It sounds like something out of a southern gothic novel, but it’s real life. In 2016, Craig’s father, Max Liner, killed Craig’s mother, Sue, before taking his own life.
It’s a heavy cloud to hang over a family.
When you look at Charlton Craig Liner Cleveland TN through that lens, the domestic violence aspect feels even more systemic. Craig and Karen had been married for two decades. They had two kids. Their divorce was only finalized in September 2024—just months before the shooting. While the official reason was "irreconcilable differences," earlier filings had mentioned "inappropriate marital conduct."
The Jailhouse Plot: Things Get Worse
Just when the community thought they’d heard the worst of it, June 2025 rolled around. While sitting in jail awaiting trial for Karen's murder, Craig Liner was hit with new charges.
Basically, he’s accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill his ex-mother-in-law.
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An inmate named William “Terry” McDaniel came forward, claiming Craig wanted to "solve his problem." Apparently, Craig was worried his mother-in-law was turning his children against him and blamed her testimony for his lack of bail.
The kicker? Craig supposedly offered McDaniel a boat and an SUV—both tucked away in a storage unit at Calfee's—as payment for the hit. McDaniel wore a wire for Bradley County authorities, and they allegedly caught the whole agreement on tape, sealed with a handshake.
The $3.5 Million Legal Mess
You’d think a guy with an estimated $3.5 million in assets wouldn't have trouble finding a lawyer. But the Charlton Craig Liner Cleveland TN case has been a procedural nightmare.
His assets are currently frozen by a civil court order.
Here’s how the money has shaken out so far:
- $150,000 was released by the civil court initially.
- $100,000 of that went straight to a partial retainer for defense attorney Gilbert Rogers.
- The rest was eaten up by child support, storage fees for his various vehicles, and an apartment lease.
By August 2025, Craig was telling Judge Sandra Donaghy that he was "indigent"—basically broke—and needed a court-appointed lawyer. The judge wasn't buying it. She pointed out that he still has millions, he just hasn't taken the right legal steps to unfreeze it for his defense.
It’s a weird stalemate. His lawyer, Rogers, says he won't keep going without the rest of the money upfront. If the money doesn't move, Craig might end up representing himself in a trial where the death penalty is a very real possibility.
Where the Case Stands Now
The legal system moves slowly, especially when there’s a mountain of digital evidence and a secondary murder-for-hire charge to deal with. As of late 2025, here is the current status:
The trial for the murder of Karen Liner is currently set for May 12, 2026.
Judge Clay Collins, who has been presiding over many of the hearings, refused to recuse himself despite the defense arguing that he had too many social and professional ties to the "real life club" (Rotary) and social media circles Karen belonged to. The judge maintained he could be fair, and the people of Bradley County elected him to do exactly that.
Actionable Insights for the Community
While we wait for the 2026 trial date, there are a few things this case highlights for anyone following it or living in the Cleveland area.
- Monitor Civil vs. Criminal Interplay: This case is a prime example of how a civil court's "freeze" on assets can effectively paralyze a criminal defense. If you're following the news, watch for the civil court filings—that’s where the money for his defense will either be unlocked or remain stuck.
- Domestic Violence Resources: The tragic history of the Liner family (2016 and 2025) underscores the importance of local resources like The Harbor or the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Court Access: For those wanting to see the proceedings firsthand, MixTV.TV has been streaming many of the hearings. It's a rare look at the "boring" parts of the law—bond arguments and asset disputes—that actually determine how a major murder trial functions.
The story of Charlton Craig Liner Cleveland TN isn't over. Between the frozen millions, the jailhouse recordings, and a trial date still months away, Cleveland is left waiting for a final resolution to a tragedy that has spanned two generations.
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Keep an eye on the Bradley County Criminal Court dockets for the next status hearing, likely to focus on whether a new attorney will take the case or if Craig will be forced to defend himself.