In 2007, a 25-year-old unsolved homicide case was reopened when an informant shared vital information with sheriffs in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

The source claimed to know who killed Lynn Orrand, 25, a hard-working family man who was shot while deer hunting on January 16, 1982. 

“By looking at the size of the wound, detectives could determine that he was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun,” said Mark DiNardo, now retired as a detective with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

“It was obvious that he was murdered,” DiNardo said on Fatal Family Feuds, airing Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen.

Footprints about ten yards from the body and other ones leading to tire tracks at a church parking lot provided early clues. 

“It appeared that someone had been lying in wait … and then fled the scene,” said J. Paul Newman, now retired as District Attorney for Rutherford County.

A quarter of a century later, Tennessee officials finally cracked the case and uncovered a deadly family conspiracy driven by money.

Lynn Orrand’s marriage rocked by financial issues

Born in Murfreesboro in 1949, Lynn had four siblings including a twin brother, Glenn. After graduating high school, he landed a number of odd jobs.

While working as a restaurant cook, he met and married fellow employee Candance Patterson. The middle child of five, Candance helped raise her younger brother, Kevin, according to Fatal Family Feuds. 

By 1974, Lynn and Candance, who worked at a local factory, had two sons, Terry and Gary. “He enjoyed spending time with his kids, his wife, and family members,” said DiNardo of Orrand.

He worked overtime to be a good provider. “Lynn got a job as a welder and a painter, and he was often working two jobs to provide for his family,” said Brandon Puttbrese, a former Daily News Journal reporter. 

Candance told police she was home with her boys the morning her husband was shot. Police learned that Lynn was an avid hunter. His brother-in-law, Kevin Patterson, frequently accompanied him.

Just 17, Kevin and his wife, Joyce, 16, were starting a family. “Because of the baby, Kevin was kicked out of his parents’ house, and they moved into Lynn and Candance’s place,” said DiNardo.

Kevin said that he’d spent the night of January 15 and the next morning at the hospital, where Joyce had just given birth to their daughter. His alibi appeared to check out.

Lynn’s twin brother Glenn told police that Candance and Lynn had money issues. “Even though Lynn was working two jobs, Candance apparently still felt he needed to be bringing in more financial help,” said Newman.

Investigators learned that Lynn’s life-insurance policy left everything to Candance. “Lynn increased the coverage to $50,000,” said Jim Tramel, now retired as a detective with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

Candance acknowledged money was tight but denied any responsibility for her husband’s death. She also told them that on November 18, 1981, Lynn had been assaulted by someone with a crowbar in the garage at their home.

“He did not get a good visual of this person after he had been struck in the head due to the fact that it appeared he suffered a concussion,” said Tramel.

The assault case and Lynn’s murder investigation both went cold. It took 25 years to be reinvigorated.

Informant reported that Kevin Patterson conspired to kill Lynn Orrand 

In 2007, local man Lonnie Butcher was incarcerated for violating the terms of his probation for drug charges. He wanted to trade leniency for information.

Butcher said high school buddy Kevin Patterson confided to him 25 years earlier that he’d killed Lynn while he was deer hunting. He also said that Kevin’s friend, Jason Riley, had attacked Lynn in November.  

Police questioned Riley, who denied any wrongdoing. “He was told there could be no prosecution on the assault,” said Newman. “The statute of limitations had run.”

Riley told sheriffs that Kevin approached him in November 1981 and asked him to take a meeting with an older man. The stranger, who was in his 30s, offered Riley $5,000 to kill Lynn.

“Jason told us the reason that they need to kill Lynn is because he is abusive to his sister, Candance,” said DiNardo.

Riley let himself into Lynn’s garage and hid out. At 2 a.m., Lynn came home, and Riley struck him with a crowbar and then ran. He refused to attack Lynn again. 

Riley didn’t know the identity of the older man, but he said Kevin knew who he was. Investigators recruited Riley to get Kevin to discuss the murder and the third man, but the strategy failed.

Lynn’s son, Gary, told police that Kevin, his wife, and their baby moved out shortly after his dad’s murder. “It just seemed odd, because my mom and uncle Kevin were really close,” Gary told Fatal Family Feuds.

Gary also said that his mother began dating and married Gary Bush, a fellow factory employee, after the murder. Investigators learned that Candance and Bush were in a relationship before Lynn was killed. 

According to a factory manager interviewed by officials, “it was very obvious that there was an affair going on,” said Tramel. Candance saw West as upwardly mobile. Investigators realized that Bush could be the older man Riley described.

Police arranged for Riley to call Bush and to tell him that the police were on his back. “Gary tells him to just be quiet. Don’t say a word…. And then he hangs up,” said DiNardo. Police were convinced that Bush was involved in the murder.

Kevin Patterson, Candance Orrand Bush, and Gary Bush arrested

In December 2007, Kevin was arrested for murder. After a week behind bars, he told detectives what happened 25 years earlier.

Kevin said that he was approached by his sister and Bush in November 1981. “The reasons given to Kevin was they wanted Lynn out of the picture so that Candance could raise the kids and not have to worry about custody issues,” said Tramel.

Kevin asked why she couldn’t just get a divorce. “She told him that Lynn is abusive. He would never leave her or the kids, and that he would kill her,” said DiNardo.

Kevin contacted Riley and then set up the meeting for them and Bush. After the failed murder attempt with the crowbar, Candance tightened the screws on her cash-strapped little brother, according to Fatal Family Feuds.

She told him that if he committed the murder, she’d pay him $5,000 and help to support him and his family, according to Newman.

Kevin told police that he slipped away from the hospital with no one knowing, got his shotgun, went to the area where Lynn hunted, and waited. 

“Lynn was the prey that morning and that’s when Kevin proceeds to pull the trigger,” said Tramel. The first bullet ricocheted off a rock. The second entered the back of Lynn’s shoulder and tore through his chest. Kevin ran to his car and snuck back into the hospital.

“Kevin felt very much manipulated by his older sister to commit this act of violence,” said Puttbrese. “Candance Orrand wanted a different life.”

Kevin agreed to a plea deal and 25-year sentence, provided that he’d testify against his co-conspirators. On December 21, 2007, Candance and Bush were arrested for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. 

Their trial began in September 2008. Candance and Gary were convicted and given life sentences without the chance for parole.

Watch all-new episodes of Fatal Family Feuds on Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen.