FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says a suspect is in custody in the slayings of five people in southern Tennessee. A sixth body was found 20 miles away at a business in Huntsville, Alabama.

Jacob Shaffer, 30, confessed to killing his wife and five other people. The TBI has not said how exactly they were murdered.

TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm says in an e-mail that the bodies were found Saturday morning. She said some of the victims are related.

The murder victims include Shaffer’s estranged wife, her 16 year old son, and his 16 year old friend, and two adult men. Officials said Shaffer had been stalking his estranged wife, often watching her behind her South Lincoln Road home.

“I didn’t know about him stalking her, but I knew she was having problems with him. She was already having her own personal problems,” said Marlee Turner, a family friend.

The killings took place either Friday night or early Saturday. A press conference was be held on Saturday afternoon.

“We have taken one person in to custody believed to be responsible for this horrendous crime scene. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab, mobile crime lab is on scene. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, Madison County Sheriff department, Huntsville police department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s department, and District Attorney General Crawford are all on the scene. This is going to be a long drawn out process,” said Murray Blackwelder, Lincoln County Sheriff.

A family friend said this was possibly the result of a long-brewing domestic dispute. The friend says the couple had been separated for about 90 days and the wife was threatening divorce.

“She kinda had a hard time in life. She was a very kind person, and definitely loved her children, loved her family, and a typical concerned mom,” said Turner.

His wife had not taken out a restraining order against Shaffer.

(The Associated Press and News Channel 5)