Natalie Neysa Alund

nalund@tennessean.com

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The man accused of fatally stabbing the great niece of legendary country entertainer Johnny Cash has pleaded guilty to a murder charge in Putnam County, authorities said Tuesday.

Wayne Masciarella of Cape May, N.J. had been charged with first-degree murder in the 2014 death of 23-year-old Courtney Cash. He was also accused of stabbing her boyfriend, William Austin Johnson.

Masciarcella pleaded guilty to the felony conviction in Putnam County Circuit Court on Tuesday, a court clerk said.

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Former Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews said Masciarella had gotten into a dispute with Johnson and Cash at their Baxter home before he allegedly stabbed them both and fled. The three were believed to be friends, the sheriff said.

After the attack, Johnson took his 20-month-old daughter to a Sparta hospital. The baby was not injured, but Johnson was treated for multiple wounds. His daughter was later taken to a relative's house.

When police arrived at the Baxter home, they found the body of Courtney Cash hidden in a cedar box.

Masciarella was later arrested in Cookeville.

Eddie Farris, Putnam County's sheriff, released a statement Tuesday, saying he was satisfied with the resolution of the case.

"The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has received undue criticism about this investigation," he wrote in the statement. "I’m sure some things could have been done differently but at the end of the day, we would still be where we are now. Wayne Masciarella said from the very beginning of this investigation that he stabbed Courtney Cash. Wayne Masciarella is again taking responsibility for the death of Courtney Cash by entering this plea of guilt. I am glad that we can put this behind us and move forward without delaying justice any further.”

Courtney Cash was the granddaughter of Tommy Cash, the brother of the late Johnny Cash. In a statement, Tommy Cash asked for prayers and privacy for his family.