Murder suspect leaps to his death

TROOPE

The man wanted in connection with a Nashville hotel homicide died Saturday while leaping from a Knoxville hotel balcony trying to avoid apprehension, Metro Police confirmed Saturday night.

Murder suspect Billy Troope was fatally injured tonight after Knoxville Police and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force came to his room at a Ramada Inn on Kingston Pike. According to  reports, as the officers entered the third-floor room around 9:30 p.m., Troope jumped from the balcony and landed head-first onto pavement.

He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at UT Medical Center, according to police.

Law enforcement officials had learned that Troope was likely in the Knoxville area, and Knoxville Police on Saturday located his turquoise Ford Crown Victoria in the parking lot of the hotel, according to reports.

Troope, 50, was wanted for the beating and strangulation death of his ex-girlfriend, Wendy Sue McKinney, 46, who was found dead Wednesday inside a guestroom at the Hampton Inn in Bellevue.  According to Metro Police, the two met at a Bellevue restaurant Monday evening and then checked into the Hampton Inn at 7:46 p.m.  Troope left the motel shortly before midnight, police said, but he came back to the parking lot during the overnight hours for a time before leaving again.  

Reports show that Troope returned briefly at approximately 7:40 a.m. Tuesday and retrieved his belongings. A "do not disturb" sign was left on the door.

Troope was arrested by Dickson County authorities in August for domestic violence against McKinney.  He was also under an order of protection to stay away from her, police said.