Wife of former MNPD assistant police chief found shot to death in Rutherford County

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A former assistant police chief for the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) was arrested and accused in the murder of his wife at their family home in Murfreesboro. 

Rutherford County officials arrested 87-year-old John Sorace after they said his wife, Sharon, was found shot to death in their family home on Dundee Court in Murfreesboro. One neighbor, Amanda Cushman, knew the couple and said she found the charges hard to believe. 

“He absolutely adored his wife — loved her. Anytime you talked to him, he talked very highly of her. She was very sweet, very kind, very Southern belle,” Cushman said. “Just overall really great people.”

News 2 is told John served as an assistant police chief for the MNPD years ago, alongside then-chief Joe Casey. 

According to an affidavit, John called police on Jan. 9 and claimed he woke up from a nap. His wife was pronounced dead at the scene. Arresting documents stated a .40 caliber Glock was found about eight feet away from her body and a single spent cartridge was discovered in the room. The documents added the ejection path seemed to originate from the couch.

“He was with the police force for 30 years and I feel like a lot of people don’t know the situation and I feel like they’ve taken it out of context,” Cushman added. “I don’t ever see him doing anything that would ever hurt his wife intentionally.”

Cushman said John and his wife suffered from health issues. As their street works to cope with the loss, she hopes people will wait for more information before jumping to conclusions. 

“I just want everyone to know he’s really, truly a great person and I think people should give people a little grace and not be so quick to judge,” Cushman said.

John has been held on a $700,000 and is due in court Feb. 24.