Around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, a 911 call about a possible stabbing in progress was received from a cell phone.
Data from cell towers gave law enforcement an address that turned out to be incorrect. While deputies were clearing that location to make sure everything was okay there, another 911 call about the same incident was received and law enforcement responded to a duplex at 8129 Rice Road, Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews said.
Once inside the home, a white female, later identified as Courtney Jean Cash, 23, was found to be deceased inside a white chest-type box. Deputies cleared the home and withdrew, waiting for a search warrant so they could further investigate the scene.
Meanwhile, a male victim identified as Austin Johnson and said to be the boyfriend of the female victim, had left the scene and went to the White County hospital. He was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
Because of the male victim’s condition, White County law enforcement was called to the hospital and through initial interviews with that victim, Masciarella was identified as a suspect. Putnam County deputies began looking for Masciarella and found him at a home in Cookeville within a few minutes.
According to a warrant for Masciarella, investigators claim he “stabbed the (female) victim with a kitchen knife and did not attempt to get the female professional medical assistance.”
After the female died, Masciarella “attempted to clean the crime scene and hide the body to avoid detection,” the warrant states.
Family confirmed that Cash and Austin had a young daughter together. Andrews said it is believed the child could have been at the home when the incident occurred but is now safe.
Read more: Herald Citizen - Man charged in stabbing death