American serial killer of Tennessee who killed 8 people sentenced to life without parole 

Michael Cummins pleads guilty to the murder of eight people in 2019

By Edward Era Barbacena 

The man accused of killing eight people in 2019, including his mother and father, has pleaded guilty to all first-degree murder charges on Wednesday.

Michael Cummins was sentenced to eight counts of life without parole for the mass murders in northern Sumner County which became known as the Westmoreland murders. 

All eight victims died of blunt force head injuries, an arrest report said.  The youngest victim was 12 years old.

Cummins pled guilty to first-degree murder of the following victims: 

David Carl Cummins, the father of Michael Cummins

Clara Jane Cummins, the mother of Michael Cummins

Charles Edward Hosale, the uncle of Michael Cummins

Rachel Dawn McGlothlin-Pee

Sapphire McGlothlin-Pee, Rachel’s 12-year-old daughter

Marsha Elizabeth Nuckols, Rachel’s mother

Shirley B. Fehrle

Jim Dunn

 Victims of those who died at Cummins' hands spoke in the courtroom on Wednesday. 

Steve McGlothlin, existing family member of Marsha Nuckols, Rachel Dawn McGlothlin-Pee and Sapphire McGlothlin-Pee, spoke to the courtroom Wednesday saying he wants to find out why this happened, but knows he never will. 

He lost his mom, sister and niece in the deadly incident. 

"It's one thing to lose someone in a natural occurrence," Steve began. "But it's one thing totally different when you have to deal with something as heinous as this. You'll never be able to get back the time or be able to see someone that was taken from you like this."

Steve ended by looking at Cummins, saying he hopes God forgives him. 

The father of 12-year-old Sapphire, Anthony West, was in the courtroom Wednesday in tears. He did not feel he could stand up in the courtroom, but asked an attorney to share how much he misses Sapphire, how much he loved her and what a loss this is that you never recover from. 

Michael's aunt and sister of his mother Clara, Carlotta Meadows, said she will never understand why this happened. 

"I'm sorry for loss of everyone of those families," Meadows said. "I lost mine, too... I love you son. I don't understand what happened, but turn yourself over to God, please. That's exactly where Momma wants you right now."

She added that she will never believe he did not commit this crime by himself. 

Cummins submitted a petition to plead guilty instead of getting the death penalty. All the victims' family members in the courtroom said they were satisfied with Cummins' sentencing. 

Cummins also pled guilty to attempted first degree murder of his grandmother and theft. 

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the April 27 incident was the deadliest homicide event in 20 years.