Glenn Arden Shinaberry
Anderson County Assistant Public Defender Glenn A. Shinaberry, 29, died in a single-vehicle crash in Dayton, Ohio, early Sunday morning.
Shinaberry, a Knoxville resident, had been an assistant public defender in Anderson County since 2012.
WHIO-TV in Dayton said Shinaberry was a passenger in a Ford Mustang that hit a pole on a curve in front of the University of Dayton Arena at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The driver, who was not immediately identified, was taken to a Dayton-area hospital in critical condition, the television station said.
Anderson County Assistant Public Defender Glenn A. Shinaberry, left, at his brother’s wedding. (Submitted photo)
Shinaberry was born in Austin, Texas, and he was a 2003 graduate of Austin High School, a 2007 graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a 2011 graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law.
Shinaberry wrote sport stories for the UT Daily Beacon newspaper, and he was a former sports freelancer at the Knoxville News Sentinel.
On Tuesday, Anderson County Public Defender Tom Marshall said Shinaberry did his best to represent his clients, and he got along well with them. Shinaberry worked often in Anderson County General Sessions Court and did some work in Criminal Court, Marshall said.
Shinaberry is pictured above at his 2012 swearing-in ceremony with Criminal and Circuit Court Judge Don Elledge. (Submitted photo)
Shinaberry was one of four assistant public defenders. Marshall said Shinaberry had clerked for the Public Defender’s Office and also Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark. Marshall hired Shinaberry almost as soon as he passed the bar exam two years ago.
“We just miss him already,” Marshall said. “He had a lot of potential and really dove into the work here.”
In an obituary posted in the News Sentinel, the family said Shinaberry’s love of life was always present.
“When the loud, tall redhead flashed his smile and shared his humor, he brought joy to all around him,” the obituary said. “Glenn had a passion for sports and loved discussing it with his brothers.
Shinaberry leads a mock courtroom session during a Student Citizens Police Academy in Oak Ridge in August 2013. (Photo by John Huotari)
“Glenn’s family is so proud of his accomplishments and the amazing man he grew up to be. He will be deeply missed by his family and many close friends.”
Shinnaberry is survived by his mother and father, two brothers and a sister-in-law, and grandmother. A memorial service and reception will be held in Austin, Texas, on Saturday.
