Virginia man charged in Hawkins murder
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An Abingdon, Virginia man has been charged in the April 23 death of a Surgoinsville man in Hawkins County.
Canaan Ellis Harless, 25, is charged with felony murder and aggravated robbery in connection with the death of Tyler Nelms, 29, of Surgoinsville. Harless was located late Monday night and was taken into custody in Saltville, Virginia.
Harless is being held in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail awaiting extradition back to Hawkins County.
On April 23, the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a body on the side of Sensabaugh Hollow Road in Church Hill, in a remote section of upper Hawkins County. The deceased was later identified as Nelms, whose death was determined to be a homicide. As a result of the investigation, a warrant was secured in Hawkins County for Harless
Assisting in the investigation were the Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. Virginia agencies assisting were the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, Saltville Police Department, Damascus Police Department and the Abingdon Police Department.
Additional assistance was provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said that the investigation is ongoing and no further details will be released at this time.

