The Murder of Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bunn
Warning, this case discusses mental health and suicide.
For this case, I watched an episode of Calls From the Inside. It’s season 2 episode 4, titled ‘Killing the Competition.’
Background
Kenneth Eugene Bunn, often referred to as Kenny, was born on June 14, 1992.
Kenny had lived on and off with his grandmother, Pat Colvard ever since he was born. He was a “meemow’s boy.” Kenny had been through a lot since he was young, and had been abused as a child.
Kenny was different from the people in Murray County, Georgia. He was goth, and into dark music and poetry. He struggled to fit in, which caused depression, and suicidal thoughts. He often kept to himself, and was quiet and quirky.
Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bunn
The Discovery
On March 16, 2020, a 911 call came in around 4pm. The caller said they were coming down Carlton Petty Road to fish, and came up on what looked like a dead body. The caller said the victim had blood coming out of his nose.
The location of where the body was found was a very rural area close to the Tennessee state border. The body was found on the embankment of the Conasauga River. The victim didn’t have any identification on him.
The GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) spoke to any witnesses that they had. There were people fishing and kayaking that day. The fishermen that discovered the body were interviewed. The stories that they gave seemed to check out.
Several witnesses had seen a suspicious male carrying a chainsaw near the river. That individual was located, and ignored a lot of the questions that were being asked The GBI learned that he had an active arrest warrant in Tennessee, and was avoiding going to jail that day. He was eliminated as a suspect.
The Ex-Girlfriend
One of Kenny’s friends had messaged Kenny’s mom, Trenna asking if she had heard about the body found at the bridge. Trenna contacted Pat, who hadn’t seen Kenny in about 2 days. Trenna said she just had a feeling that it was Kenny that had been found at the bridge. They reported him missing.
The police went to Pat’s home and met with Pat and Trenna. Trenna asked them if the victim had been found wearing glasses. She had recently purchased Kenny a pair. They confirmed that the victim was wearing glasses, and they knew it was him.
Kenny’s injuries had ruled out suicide, and it was obvious he had been murdered. The medical examiner had found small caliber bullets in his body.
Trenna said it wasn’t unusual for gunshots to be heard in the area where she lived. But, on the night Kenny was believed to be murdered, she heard shots around 9:20pm.
While talking to Trenna and Pat, they revealed that Kenny had been dating a girl named Nayda Swartz. The relationship had ended after only a few months, and there was a lot of animosity between the two. Kenny had fallen hard and fast for Nadya. Kenny was 27 at the time, and Nadya had been 20. Kenny had just wanted to be loved, but Nadya was described as being very immature.
A Love Triangle
Nadya was interviewed by the GBI, and was joined by her mom during the interview. She revealed that she had seen Kenny on the night of his death. She said she had dropped him off at the gas station, and he became angry with her.
They were able to confirm that they had been at the gas station, and that she was the likely that last person who had seen him alive. Nadya said that Kenny wanted to go to a friend’s house, but she didn’t want to go. She said he got mad and jumped out of the car.
Nadya was asked if she knew of anyone who’d want to hurt Kenny. She said there were several people that wanted to beat him up or kill him. They all said they hadn’t seen Kenny in awhile, and they were all eliminated.
Kenny and Nadya had met in 2018 on Facebook. It seemed like they had a lot in common, but the relationship didn’t last long. Nadya had broken up with him, but the two stayed in contact. Nadya had also started seeing someone new, a man named Justin Hooker.
The Suspects
Nadya was asked to go to the police station for another interview. Nadya told the police that Kenny had once held a knife to her dog’s neck. She also said that Kenny had threatened to hurt her if she left him.
During the interview, Nadya had placed herself at the crime scene. She said she had been at Pat’s house to pick up Kenny. During her first story, she said Justin had been hiding in the back seat, and that Kenny had no idea he was there.
On March 19, 2020, a witness named Kevin Pintor contacted the GBI through his attorney.
Kevin admitted to selling a gun to a relative. Kevin said his cousin was Justin Hooker. The gun that Kevin sold to Justin was a .22LR Heritage pistol. Kevin told Justin that the gun was for him in case of self defense, and that it should never leave his house. Kevin said he gave Justin the gun on the day before the murder.
Kevin said that he trusted Justin, and now had to hire an attorney to clear his name. He said that was the reason he came forward. The police had never released the details of the gun that had been used to kill Kenny.
The police went to Justin’s apartment. He was detained, and was held in the Murray County Detention Center. Nadya was still being interviewed at the time. Justin claimed that the police were looking at the wrong people.
Who Pulled the Trigger?
Justin admitted that he had purchased a gun from Kevin before. He admitted to buying a shotgun and a pistol before from Kevin. Justin said the pistol was a smaller caliber. Justin was asked where the gun was now, and he said he re-sold it to an old buddy of his.
Justin was confronted. The police said they knew he had purchased the gun on the day before the murder because they had interviewed Kevin. They also said they knew he was at the bridge. Justin asked for a lawyer.
Nadya admitted that she and Kenny got out of the car because she wanted to go in the woods. She said Justin walked behind her to make sure she was safe. Nadya claimed that things were fine with Kenny and Justin. She said Kenny wanted her back and was begging for her to get back with him. She said he began calling her names and threatened to kill her.
Nadya told the police that it was all her idea to lure Kenny out to the bridge. She asked several times during her interview if Justin was okay.
She said Justin wasn’t with her at the time. She said she had the gun with her. She said Kenny came at her, and she shot him.
The police knew Nadya was somehow involved, but didn’t think she was the one who had pulled the trigger. The police asked Nadya if she would really spend the rest of her life in prison for Justin. She was arrested, and as she was being handcuffed, she again asked if Justin was okay.
A Twisted Relationship
While Nadya and Justin were being held in the Murray County Detention Center, their phone calls were recorded.
Nadya still maintained that it was self defense. Nadya’s mom could be heard asking if she had anything on her phone of Kenny threatening her. Nadya claimed that Kenny had threatened her, but said she didn’t know if those things were still on her phone.
Nadya also told her mom that Justin would never just kill someone, and had been protecting her. She said something happened between Kenny and Justin, but she wasn’t aware of what had occurred. She said Justin had gotten back into the car, and was apologizing to her. The police were never able to substantiate any of Nadya’s abuse claims.
It was clear that Justin was also trying to minimize his role. Justin said he wasn’t a horrible person, and asked if it was really his fault for doing something to someone who puts their hands on a woman.
Kevin believes that Justin was brainwashed by Nadya, and that Nadya had been the mastermind the whole time. Justin was head over heels for her, and would’ve done anything she asked.
The Convictions
The police believed that Justin and Nadya would eventually turn on each other. However, that didn’t happen.
Nadya said Justin had been by her side for years, and they trusted each other with everything they had. Nadya was into really dark things, and thought it was romantic that Justin had killed for her.
Nadya told her mom that she and Justin whistled ‘You Are My Sunshine’ to each other so that they didn’t lose hope. Nadya and Justin were talking about marriage if they ever got out. It was clear that they didn’t have any remorse for taking Kenny’s life. All Nadya could say was that she and Justin knew that they had messed up.
In March 2021, Nadya and Justin both accepted plea deals for their roles in Kenny’s murder. They were both sentenced life in prison, and will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
Nadya Schwarz
Justin Hooker
FINAL THOUGHTS
Kenny just wanted to be loved and have a family one day. He fell hard and fast for Nadya. Nadya continued to speak to Kenny and Justin, and probably loved the fact that she had two men fighting for her. I hope Nadya and Justin never get out of prison because it’s clear that they are both sick and twisted people.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/kenny-bunn-murder-where-are-nadya-swartz-and-justin-hooker-now/
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/couple-pleads-guilty-sentenced-in-murder-of-chatsworth-man
https://chatsworthtimes.com/stories/his-goal-was-to-have-a-little-family,3353
