Bedford County, TN – The Bedford County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the arrest of 38-year-old Justin Pickle in connection with the tragic death of 16-year-old Maria Lucas Gaspar. Pickle was apprehended on Thursday afternoon in Columbia, Tennessee, and has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with evidence.

Maria was first reported missing by her mother on June 30, 2024, after last being seen the afternoon of June 29 at their home on Bridlewood Drive in Shelbyville. The Shelbyville Police Department opened an investigation, launching a search for the teen. Tragically, nine days after Maria's disappearance, a pedestrian discovered human remains on Old Nashville Dirt Road, just under a mile away from her home. The remains were soon confirmed to be Maria's, intensifying the investigation.

Pickle, a convicted felon with a history of criminal offenses is currently behind bars and facing charges in connection with Maria Gaspar's death. He was booked into the Bedford County Jail on Thursday evening around 5 PM, according to officials. His lengthy criminal record, dating back to at least 2007, includes multiple arrests and convictions that occurred in several different cities.

The Thursday afternoon arrest of Pickle marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation surrounding the death of Maria Lucas Gaspar, but many questions remain. More details about the what happened may not be answered until court proceedings get underway in the near future. Until then, authorities are continuing to piece together the events that led to Maria leaving her home on the 29th of June and why she was found dead less than 2 blocks away from her home.

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