A Lawrenceburg man who said he dreamt his estranged wife had been killed and he might be involved in her death is now in jail charged with shooting her, authorities said.

Dennis Allen Rayfield, 32, 9 Valley Road, Lot 6, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., is accused of killing his wife, Julie Pope Rayfield, on Monday.

Wayne County sheriff's Chief Deputy Gerald Baer said Rayfield turned himself in at the Lawrence County Jail and was transferred to Wayne County, where the shooting reportedly occurred.

He was charged with murder Monday night shortly after arriving at the Wayne County Jail, authorities said.

An arrest affidavit states Rayfield told relatives he had dreamt his estranged wife was dead, and the more he thought about it, the more he began to realize it was not a dream.

Julie Rayfield was found inside her home at 1144 Pope Circle Road, north of the Waynesboro. A family member reported finding her after 7 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Rayfield was shot once in the head by a small-caliber pistol, investigators said, adding the gun has not been found.

Authorities said Rayfield already was considered a suspect before turning himself in.
Baer said the couple's 4-year-old son was home when his mother's body was found.

Wayne County investigator Sgt. Kenneth Martin said it appears the child was asleep.

Baer said investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

"At this point, it appears to have been a domestic situation that got out of hand," Baer said. "There's no telling what set him off."

He said the couple separated in September.

Julie Rayfield was last seen alive about 8:30 p.m. Sunday when she left a relative's house next door, officials said. The same relative found the body Monday morning.

"The relative baby-sits for her while she's at work, and (Rayfield) always had the little boy over there early in the morning," Baer said. "When she hadn't brought the baby over to her Monday morning, (the relative) got worried, went to Julie's house and found her."

Investigators said Julie Rayfield was found on the bathroom floor.

Baer said investigators still are trying to determine when the shooting happened.

"We hope the autopsy will help us on that," Baer said. "Right now, all we know it was sometime between 8:30 Sunday night and 7:10 Monday morning."

Investigators said Rayfield parked his truck at Mount Hope Church and walked less than a half-mile to Julie Rayfield's house. Baer said Rayfield's truck was reportedly seen at the church Sunday night.

Reports indicate Rayfield used the front window to get into the house.

"Investigators are still interviewing people and taking statements trying to determine exactly what happened and why," Baer said.

He said the couple's son is in the custody of a family member.

Rayfield is being held on bail of $150,000. Martin said his first court appearance will be April 3.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.