LOUISVILLE, TN – A Blount County man will spend nearly four decades in prison after pleading guilty in the brutal stabbing death of his mother and her pet cat, a crime that rattled a quiet Tennessee neighborhood last fall.

Zachary Justin Hayes, 27, admitted to second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, aggravated cruelty to animals, and intentional killing of an animal on Friday morning. The plea came less than a year after his mother, 63-year-old Kimberly Hayes, was found fatally attacked in her Louisville home on Samples Road.

Sentencing proceeded swiftly following his plea, with Fifth Circuit Court Judge Tammy M. Harrington ordering Hayes to serve 37 years behind bars. The decision marked the end of a case that shocked both family members and the broader community.

Authorities first responded to the home in early September 2023 after Kimberly Hayes failed to report to work. Investigators arrived to find her suffering from multiple stab wounds. The family cat was also discovered dead, killed in a similar manner, authorities said.

Deputies combing through the residence located several knives covered in blood, including one blade that was broken in two—a sign, officials said, of the violent struggle that unfolded inside the house.

The investigation quickly turned to Zachary Hayes, who was known to use a red Mercedes spotted at his mother’s home shortly before her death. When family members noticed the car missing and Kimberly Hayes failed to answer calls, they grew worried and alerted authorities.

Hayes was apprehended a day after his mother’s body was found at his Knoxville apartment. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force located the red Mercedes outside and arrested him without incident.

During questioning, Hayes reportedly acknowledged stabbing his mother while she was watching television. He told detectives he had not planned the attack and described calmly finishing a TV program before going to bed after the stabbing.

Medical examiners concluded that Kimberly Hayes suffered fatal injuries to her neck and head, placing the time of death on the night of September 7 or in the early hours of the next morning. Family members would later recall their shock and horror upon realizing the extent of what had happened.

In a courtroom video, Hayes was seen becoming emotional as evidence was presented, reportedly breaking into tears when shown images of his mother after the attack.

Authorities said Hayes will receive credit for several days he has already spent in custody while awaiting trial. No motive for the killings has been given.