From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The 18-year-old accused of killing a missing Collegedale man had a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, July 1, where police played his confession to the courtroom.
Last month, Kian Andrew Neal was charged with the murder of 56-year-old Robert Locke after the man was reported missing by his family in late May.
Prosecutors showed the court video from Neal’s interview with Collegedale police after his arrest.
During this interview, Neal originally told detectives that he didn’t know why he was there but that he assumed it was because of “something serious” and asked for a lawyer.
After he requested a lawyer, he changed his mind and stated that he killed Robert Locke because he had learned he was a sex offender and thought it would be cool to “serve justice.”
“I guess I was really angry and I didn’t think about it… I had this weird idea in my head that it would be really cool to serve what I thought was justice, because I felt like it wasn’t being served.”
Neal admitted to detectives that he had been sexually abused as a child and that situation left him “scarred” and “angry” at sex offenders.
He also shared that he decided to harm Locke after searching for sex offenders near him, and he located his profile on the Tennessee sex offender registry that detailed a child molestation charge from 2003.
“I walked through the woods to the back of his house, and I went and killed him with a hammer. He wouldn’t die so I kept hitting him with the hammer.”
He also told police that he used zip ties to choke Locke and a saw to dismember his body.
Neal said he disposed of the items used to commit the crime, as well as Locke’s body, in a dumpster, but police say they have yet to find the victim despite search efforts at the Birchwood Landfill.
A surveillance video from May 23 showed Neal rolling a wagon up to a dumpster. He was then seen opening the door to the dumpster, before struggling to throw two black trash bags into the container.
The court also heard testimony from three of Neal’s acquaintances. Two of them admitted that he confessed to the killing. These witnesses are minors, so we cannot share their identities.
“He had mentioned that the person was someone who did bad things to women. When he told me, he was shaking and felt a lot of remorse.”
Another witness described Neal’s demeanor as “nonchalant” and “calm” as he confessed to the killing.
“[Kian] said he killed Locke because he was a pedophile.”
Judge Curis Bowe then bound the case over to the grand jury.
“Based on the proof that has been submitted… the court concludes that there is probable cause to determine that the offenses identified earlier occurred and that they were committed by Mr. Neal.”
Neal will remain at the Hamilton County Jail until his next court date.
PREVIOUS STORY: A GoFundMe created for the 18-year-old accused by Collegedale Police of murdering a 56-year-old registered sex offender, Robert George Locke, has been shut down.
It comes after the organizer, who claims to be the father of Kian Neal, learned that GoFundMe’s policy does not allow fundraisers involving alleged violent crimes, even if the case is ongoing.
“All donations will be refunded. A heartfelt thank you to all who donated.”
The original fundraiser page, which had a $30,000 goal, said Kian’s family was devastated when he was arrested, saying he “has his whole life ahead of him.”
"Overwhelmed and heartbroken,” the organizer says the family turned to the GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his attorney fees, court costs, and all other expenses related to his legal defense.
“We want to ensure that Kian has the best possible chance to defend himself and that he receives fair treatment throughout this process.”
Local 3 has reached out to the GoFundMe organizer to confirm more information.
Kian pled not guilty in court last Wednesday.
PREVIOUS STORY: After a two-day search at the Birchwood Landfill for the body of Robert George Locke, Collegedale police say recovery efforts have been concluded following consultation with local and federal partners.
The case remains under active investigation.
Officials also pushed back against ongoing speculation circulating on social media, calling portions of the public discussion “false and misleading.” Investigators said there is no evidence linking Locke to suspect Kian Andrew Neal, and stated Neal told investigators he did not know Locke. Authorities believe the victim was selected at random.
Investigators say evidence continues to align with a confession provided by Neal after he waived his Miranda rights, and they believe the killing was planned and premeditated. They also believe Neal brutally murdered and disposed of Locke’s body.
The Collegedale Police Department acknowledged Locke’s prior criminal history, noting he was convicted in the early 2000s, but emphasized that such a background does not justify violence.
“…We also cannot condone an act of murder regardless of who the victim may be or what they may have done in the past. Our duty is to uphold the law impartially and to ensure that justice is applied equally to all people.”
Neal, through his attorney, entered a plea of not guilty in Collegedale Municipal Court this week. He is next scheduled to appear on July 1, 2026.
PREVIOUS STORY: Kian Andrew Neal, the 18-year-old suspect accused of killing 56-year-old Robert George Locke, has pleaded not guilty.
Neal appeared in court on Wednesday, June 17, to enter a plea. He is charged with:
Neal will have a preliminary hearing on July 1 at 3:00pm
Collegedale Police officers and other authorities are searching the Birchwood Landfill, where they believe Locke’s body may be located.
Officers arrested Neal on Friday, June 12, after someone alerted police that Neal admitted to killing “a rapist.” Locke was convicted of child molestation in 2003, according to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.
The Collegedale Police Department released a statement on social media, emphasizing their commitment to conducting a “fair and unbiased investigation.”
“The Collegedale Police Department continues its investigation into the murder of Robert George Locke. Based on the recovery of evidence and statements made by the suspect, Kian Andrew Newal, Collegedale detectives believe that Mr. Locke’s body may be located inside the Birchwood Landfill. The Collegedale Police Department, along with several partnering agencies, are actively conducting a search inside the landfill in an effort to recover Locke’s remains.
The Collegedale Police Department remains committed to conducting a fair and unbiased investigation. Our goal is to bring closure to Mr. Locke’s family and ensure that every aspect of this unspeakably brutal murder is thoroughly investigated.
The Collegedale Police Department would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency, as well as the Highway 58 and Chattanooga Fire Departments for their assistance and support during this recovery effort.”
PREVIOUS STORY: Investigators with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Collegedale Police Department were searching a section of the Birchwood landfill Wednesday after their investigation led them to suspect that the body of a 56-year-old man may be there.
Earlier in the investigation, detectives found traces of missing 56-year-old Robert George Locke’s DNA in Kian Andrew Neal’s vehicle.
Neal gave police statements that indicated that Locke’s body, along with other evidence, may be in the landfill, according to Collegedale Asst. Police Chief Jamie Heath, who spoke with Local 3 News Wednesday.
PREVIOUS STORY: Detectives with the Collegedale Police Department connected the disappearance of a 56-year-old man to an 18-year-old, who now faces several charges, including criminal homicide.
Detectives found traces of missing 56-year-old Robert George Locke’s DNA in Kian Andrew Neal’s vehicle, according to an affidavit from Collegedale Police.
Police said that on June 9, someone reported that Neal “had told her that he had killed someone, but they were a rapist and missing, and that he disposed of the body,” the affidavit stated.
Detectives then ran a search on Neal to find that he had crashed his vehicle just 2.5 miles from Locke’s home on May 22.
Neal told the deputy on scene that he fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a ditch. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office brought the vehicle in for a search; it had been at a tow yard since the crash.
Authorities found Locke’s DNA in several areas of the vehicle, along with a knife, pillow and sawhorses. On June 12, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed blood to be on one of the items from the vehicle.
Collegedale Police arrested Neal on Friday, June 12.
He is charged with:
As of Monday, June 15, it is currently unclear whether or not police have located Locke’s body.
Neal is in custody and scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Collegedale Police Department says its detectives arrested a man connected to the killing of 56-year-old Robert George Locke, who went missing in late May.
A release from the agency says family members reported Locke missing on May 24, three days after they had last seen or heard from him.
The following week, Hamilton, Rhea, and Bradley County agencies conducted search efforts using specialized technology and K9 units to develop a timeline of Locke’s last-known movements.
As the investigation continued, detectives say they found “several indicators” that the man’s disappearance was suspicious:
“Search efforts were expanded, and forensic analysis was initiated to support the growing body of evidence.”
Weeks later, police arrested 18-year-old Kian Andrew Neal on Friday, June 12. It’s currently unclear what led them to Neal, but he now faces the following charges:
Neal is in the Hamilton County Jail on bonds totaling $1.2 million.
According to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, the victim, Locke, was a registered sex offender. He was convicted of child molestation in 2003.
“Our department is committed to pursuing the truth in every case, and this investigation reflects the tireless efforts of our officers and our partnering agencies,” Chief Jack Sapp stated. “We extend our condolences to the family of Mr. Locke, and we appreciate the partnership of all agencies who assisted in bringing this case to a resolution.”
Online court records show that the teen was facing a separate traffic charge and was due in court in late July.
We are working to learn more about this case.
Last month, Kian Andrew Neal was charged with the murder of 56-year-old Robert Locke after the man was reported missing by his family in late May.
Prosecutors showed the court video from Neal’s interview with Collegedale police after his arrest.
During this interview, Neal originally told detectives that he didn’t know why he was there but that he assumed it was because of “something serious” and asked for a lawyer.
After he requested a lawyer, he changed his mind and stated that he killed Robert Locke because he had learned he was a sex offender and thought it would be cool to “serve justice.”
“I guess I was really angry and I didn’t think about it… I had this weird idea in my head that it would be really cool to serve what I thought was justice, because I felt like it wasn’t being served.”
Neal admitted to detectives that he had been sexually abused as a child and that situation left him “scarred” and “angry” at sex offenders.
He also shared that he decided to harm Locke after searching for sex offenders near him, and he located his profile on the Tennessee sex offender registry that detailed a child molestation charge from 2003.
“I walked through the woods to the back of his house, and I went and killed him with a hammer. He wouldn’t die so I kept hitting him with the hammer.”
He also told police that he used zip ties to choke Locke and a saw to dismember his body.
Neal said he disposed of the items used to commit the crime, as well as Locke’s body, in a dumpster, but police say they have yet to find the victim despite search efforts at the Birchwood Landfill.
A surveillance video from May 23 showed Neal rolling a wagon up to a dumpster. He was then seen opening the door to the dumpster, before struggling to throw two black trash bags into the container.
The court also heard testimony from three of Neal’s acquaintances. Two of them admitted that he confessed to the killing. These witnesses are minors, so we cannot share their identities.
“He had mentioned that the person was someone who did bad things to women. When he told me, he was shaking and felt a lot of remorse.”
Another witness described Neal’s demeanor as “nonchalant” and “calm” as he confessed to the killing.
“[Kian] said he killed Locke because he was a pedophile.”
Judge Curis Bowe then bound the case over to the grand jury.
“Based on the proof that has been submitted… the court concludes that there is probable cause to determine that the offenses identified earlier occurred and that they were committed by Mr. Neal.”
Neal will remain at the Hamilton County Jail until his next court date.
PREVIOUS STORY: A GoFundMe created for the 18-year-old accused by Collegedale Police of murdering a 56-year-old registered sex offender, Robert George Locke, has been shut down.
It comes after the organizer, who claims to be the father of Kian Neal, learned that GoFundMe’s policy does not allow fundraisers involving alleged violent crimes, even if the case is ongoing.
“All donations will be refunded. A heartfelt thank you to all who donated.”
The original fundraiser page, which had a $30,000 goal, said Kian’s family was devastated when he was arrested, saying he “has his whole life ahead of him.”
"Overwhelmed and heartbroken,” the organizer says the family turned to the GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his attorney fees, court costs, and all other expenses related to his legal defense.
“We want to ensure that Kian has the best possible chance to defend himself and that he receives fair treatment throughout this process.”
Local 3 has reached out to the GoFundMe organizer to confirm more information.
Kian pled not guilty in court last Wednesday.
PREVIOUS STORY: After a two-day search at the Birchwood Landfill for the body of Robert George Locke, Collegedale police say recovery efforts have been concluded following consultation with local and federal partners.
The case remains under active investigation.
Officials also pushed back against ongoing speculation circulating on social media, calling portions of the public discussion “false and misleading.” Investigators said there is no evidence linking Locke to suspect Kian Andrew Neal, and stated Neal told investigators he did not know Locke. Authorities believe the victim was selected at random.
Investigators say evidence continues to align with a confession provided by Neal after he waived his Miranda rights, and they believe the killing was planned and premeditated. They also believe Neal brutally murdered and disposed of Locke’s body.
The Collegedale Police Department acknowledged Locke’s prior criminal history, noting he was convicted in the early 2000s, but emphasized that such a background does not justify violence.
“…We also cannot condone an act of murder regardless of who the victim may be or what they may have done in the past. Our duty is to uphold the law impartially and to ensure that justice is applied equally to all people.”
Neal, through his attorney, entered a plea of not guilty in Collegedale Municipal Court this week. He is next scheduled to appear on July 1, 2026.
PREVIOUS STORY: Kian Andrew Neal, the 18-year-old suspect accused of killing 56-year-old Robert George Locke, has pleaded not guilty.
Neal appeared in court on Wednesday, June 17, to enter a plea. He is charged with:
- Criminal homicide
- Especially aggravated burglary
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with evidence
- Death under suspicious, unusual, or unnatural circumstances
Neal will have a preliminary hearing on July 1 at 3:00pm
Collegedale Police officers and other authorities are searching the Birchwood Landfill, where they believe Locke’s body may be located.
Officers arrested Neal on Friday, June 12, after someone alerted police that Neal admitted to killing “a rapist.” Locke was convicted of child molestation in 2003, according to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.
The Collegedale Police Department released a statement on social media, emphasizing their commitment to conducting a “fair and unbiased investigation.”
“The Collegedale Police Department continues its investigation into the murder of Robert George Locke. Based on the recovery of evidence and statements made by the suspect, Kian Andrew Newal, Collegedale detectives believe that Mr. Locke’s body may be located inside the Birchwood Landfill. The Collegedale Police Department, along with several partnering agencies, are actively conducting a search inside the landfill in an effort to recover Locke’s remains.
The Collegedale Police Department remains committed to conducting a fair and unbiased investigation. Our goal is to bring closure to Mr. Locke’s family and ensure that every aspect of this unspeakably brutal murder is thoroughly investigated.
The Collegedale Police Department would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency, as well as the Highway 58 and Chattanooga Fire Departments for their assistance and support during this recovery effort.”
PREVIOUS STORY: Investigators with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and the Collegedale Police Department were searching a section of the Birchwood landfill Wednesday after their investigation led them to suspect that the body of a 56-year-old man may be there.
Earlier in the investigation, detectives found traces of missing 56-year-old Robert George Locke’s DNA in Kian Andrew Neal’s vehicle.
Neal gave police statements that indicated that Locke’s body, along with other evidence, may be in the landfill, according to Collegedale Asst. Police Chief Jamie Heath, who spoke with Local 3 News Wednesday.
PREVIOUS STORY: Detectives with the Collegedale Police Department connected the disappearance of a 56-year-old man to an 18-year-old, who now faces several charges, including criminal homicide.
Detectives found traces of missing 56-year-old Robert George Locke’s DNA in Kian Andrew Neal’s vehicle, according to an affidavit from Collegedale Police.
Police said that on June 9, someone reported that Neal “had told her that he had killed someone, but they were a rapist and missing, and that he disposed of the body,” the affidavit stated.
Detectives then ran a search on Neal to find that he had crashed his vehicle just 2.5 miles from Locke’s home on May 22.
Neal told the deputy on scene that he fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a ditch. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office brought the vehicle in for a search; it had been at a tow yard since the crash.
Authorities found Locke’s DNA in several areas of the vehicle, along with a knife, pillow and sawhorses. On June 12, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed blood to be on one of the items from the vehicle.
Collegedale Police arrested Neal on Friday, June 12.
He is charged with:
- Criminal homicide
- Especially aggravated burglary
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with evidence
- Death under suspicious, unusual, or unnatural circumstances
As of Monday, June 15, it is currently unclear whether or not police have located Locke’s body.
Neal is in custody and scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Collegedale Police Department says its detectives arrested a man connected to the killing of 56-year-old Robert George Locke, who went missing in late May.
A release from the agency says family members reported Locke missing on May 24, three days after they had last seen or heard from him.
The following week, Hamilton, Rhea, and Bradley County agencies conducted search efforts using specialized technology and K9 units to develop a timeline of Locke’s last-known movements.
As the investigation continued, detectives say they found “several indicators” that the man’s disappearance was suspicious:
“Search efforts were expanded, and forensic analysis was initiated to support the growing body of evidence.”
Weeks later, police arrested 18-year-old Kian Andrew Neal on Friday, June 12. It’s currently unclear what led them to Neal, but he now faces the following charges:
- Criminal homicide
- Especially aggravated burglary
- Abuse of corpse
- Tampering with evidence
- Death under suspicious, unusual, or unnatural circumstances
Neal is in the Hamilton County Jail on bonds totaling $1.2 million.
According to the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, the victim, Locke, was a registered sex offender. He was convicted of child molestation in 2003.
“Our department is committed to pursuing the truth in every case, and this investigation reflects the tireless efforts of our officers and our partnering agencies,” Chief Jack Sapp stated. “We extend our condolences to the family of Mr. Locke, and we appreciate the partnership of all agencies who assisted in bringing this case to a resolution.”
Online court records show that the teen was facing a separate traffic charge and was due in court in late July.
We are working to learn more about this case.
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