The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 03:55 PM

Nashville Man Arrested For Vicious Rape, Murder Of 12-Year Old Girl

Metro Nashville Police arrested Roy Coons in the murder of 12-year-old Yhoana Arteaga, according to Nashville CBS affiliate WTVF.

Investigators said he lived two doors down from the Arteaga family and knew Yhoana.

Detectives said they connected the 45-year-old to the murder through scientific evidence.

Yhoana had been last seen on August 10th at 12:30 p.m. while having lunch with her mother. At 5:30 p.m., Yhoana sent her mother a text saying there was someone knocking on the door of their home.

According to police, she was found dead by her mother and two siblings at 6:45 p.m.

Coons was charged with first degree premeditated murder, two counts of first degree felony murder, attempted rape of a child, and especially aggravated burglary by a grand jury.