Bell County Man Sentenced in the 2020 Death of His Brother

From WRIL - The Big One

Wade Hughett

A Bell County man charged in the death of his brother in 2020, was sentenced in Circuit Court Thursday, March 19, 2026.

As we previously reported, on Thursday, April 30, 2020, Bell County Dispatch received a call from Middlesboro Fire/EMS in regard to a severely injured male found in a residence in the Beans Fork community after they had responded to a medical call.

The focus of the investigation was the assault of 56 year old Ward Hughett found unresponsive and suffering from serious trauma, but alive in the home. Hughett was taken to Middlesboro ARH via ambulance for possible treatment of his injuries.

Through the investigation it was determined that Ward’s younger brother, 41 year old Wade Hughett, was the main suspect as the individual that assaulted him.

As the search for Wade Hughett was in progress, Ward Hughett’s condition continued to deteriorate and he was declared deceased at Middlesboro ARH Emergency room Friday morning May 1, 2020.

Local authorities were alerted to be on the lookout for Wade Hughett and a warrant for his arrest was upgraded. Wade Hughett turned himself in at the Bell County Sheriff’s Department and was taken into custody that Friday evening and charged with murder.

Wade Hughett was sentenced to an amended charge of manslaughter - 1st degree and two counts of tampering with physical evidence by Circuit Judge Keith Nagle.

He received ten years on the 1st count, five years on count 2, and five years on count 3, all to be served consecutively for a total of 20 years.