CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nearly 17 years ago, a violent murder stirred a once quiet neighborhood in Clarksville after a man was found stabbed to death outside his home.
However, to this day, no one knows who killed 57-year-old Dorris Clinard. Clarksville police believe the incident happened in the early morning hours of July 27, 2007.
Clinard likely stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, as he did every morning before his shift at work. According to his obituary, Clinard was employed at Level Valley Creamery in LaVergne for around 25 years.
What happened after he stepped outside that morning largely remains a mystery, but around 7 a.m., a neighbor leaving for work reported seeing Clinard lying between two cars in the driveway outside his home on West Park Drive.
Authorities said Clinard had been stabbed to death. That same morning, several witnesses recalled seeing one or two suspicious men walking in the neighborhood, but those reports never led to any suspects.
Something else that puzzled detectives was that there were no signs of a robbery. Family and friends couldn't think of any reason someone would want to hurt Clinard, who was active in his community and beloved by many.
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He reportedly led a bible study group at Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served as an elder for the congregation, in addition to being a part of the church choir.
A graduate from Clarksville High School, Clinard also served in the U.S. National Guard for six years. In 2016, a longtime family friend told News 2, “Everybody loved him. I mean everybody. He was just kind to everyone."
In the years since, Clinard's case has continued to be featured among the Clarksville-Montgomery County Crime Stoppers' unsolved murders. His case is one of several that now qualify for a $10,000 cash reward.
Anyone who has information on the death of Dorris Clinard is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 931-645-TIPS, or go to www.p3tips.com, and leave a tip online. All callers remain completely anonymous.