by Hickman County, TN — 16 people have been confirmed dead after a devastating explosion at a munitions factory in Hickman County, Tennessee. The blast, which occurred on October 10, leveled the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) plant, leaving no survivors.
Authorities released the names of the victims during a news briefing held on Monday. Sheriffs Chris Davis of Humphreys County and Jason Craft of Hickman County alternated in reading the names and emphasized the community’s need to support the grieving families.
Victims Identified
The victims have been identified as:
- Jason Adams
- Erick Anderson
- Billy Baker
- Adam Boatman
- Christopher Clark
- Mindy Clifton
- James Cook
- Reyna Gillahan
- LaTeisha Mays
- Jeremy Moore
- Melinda Rainey
- Melissa Stanford
- Trenton Stewart
- Rachel Woodall
- Steven Wright
- Donald Yowell
While the victims have been named, authorities have not yet fully identified the remains of all the individuals. The identification process is still ongoing.
“This is one of the most devastating incidents I’ve encountered in my career,” said Sheriff Chris Davis of Humphreys County.
Cause of the Blast Under Investigation
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating. AES, which specializes in the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of explosives, is located in Bucksnort, Tennessee, approximately 56 miles south-west of Nashville.
Aerial footage from the scene showed charred debris, smouldering vehicles, and little left of the facility except rubble. The explosion, which registered as a 1.6 magnitude earthquake, has devastated the small community, where cell service is spotty and the local gas station is a central gathering point.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident,” AES said in a statement.
Personal Tributes and Community Mourning
For residents of Waverly and nearby towns, the tragedy has deeply affected everyone. Jerri Newcombe, a close friend of Reyna Gillahan, one of the victims, shared her grief during a weekend vigil.
“We grew up together – we were in each other’s homes,” Newcombe said. “It’s just surreal, because she’s gone, and her babies are hurting.”
On social media, Rosalina Gillahan, the daughter of Reyna, posted a heartfelt tribute to her mother.
“She was a beautiful soul – loving, strong, and always thinking of others before herself,” she wrote.
Other victims, such as Donald Yowell, a chemist at AES, are also remembered by their churches and communities. Yowell’s former church, WellSpring Christian Church, called for prayers for his family after hearing of his tragic death.
“They were long-time WellSpringers before moving to Waverly a few years ago,” the church wrote.
The Loss of First Responders and Local Heroes
Another victim, Trenton Stewart, was a Waverly firefighter and pastor who had been active in his community. Stewart, who also worked in production at AES, had been serving his community both in his spiritual role and as a first responder.
“My goal as a pastor isn’t to have the biggest crowd, or to be the most perfect person, but to show the love of Christ in whatever way possible,” Stewart had written before the explosion.
A Shift to Recovery
As recovery teams continue to search through the rubble, the focus has now shifted from rescue to recovery. After nearly two days with no signs of survivors and a still-dangerous site, Sheriff Davis confirmed that the recovery operation had officially replaced the rescue mission.
“We’ve moved from hoping for survivors to now focusing on the recovery of our fallen loved ones,” Sheriff Davis added.
The community remains in mourning as they grapple with the scale of the loss, and investigators continue their work to determine what caused the deadly explosion.
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