CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A jury has been seated for the Hitchcock trial in Carter County.

Jacob and Joshua Hitchcock were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 death of their father, William “Bill” Hitchcock.

Jacob Hitchcock’s wife was also arrested in 2023 and charged with filing a false report; however, her charge was later dropped, according to Gene Scott, the attorney representing the brothers.

Bill Hitchcock was found dead by fishermen on the Watauga River on April 1, 2023. The Carter County Sheriff’s Office reported that Bill Hitchcock appeared to have died due to a gunshot wound.

Court documents previously obtained by News Channel 11 alleged that Bill Hitchcock’s sons planned to kill him after he made plans to sell a home that they would have inherited. Those documents alleged Joshua Hitchcock shot his father.

The brothers were each charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Jacob Hitchcock was also charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly destroying recorded video at the home.

Both brothers pleaded not guilty to their charges in June 2023.