NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Newly obtained documents paint a clear picture of how a local district attorney may have undermined his own office by helping a man accused of murder.

DA Contemplates Appeal Following Suspension

Cookeville District Attorney Bill Gibson apparently struck up a friendship with Chris Adams, a man he was supposed to be prosecuting for murder.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating that relationship; a relationship detailed in letters obtained by Channel 4 News.

In one letter, Gibson advised prisoner Adams not to plead guilty to first degree murder charges on killing a woman in a home invasion.

Gibson offered that legal advice at the same time his own assistant district attorney sent a plea deal to the inmate's attorney.

David Patterson said "Plead guilty to count one of first degree murder and receive a life sentence. If you don't, the DA will seek the death penalty.”

There is no indication that Patterson had any idea his own boss was going behind his back and telling the inmate not to take the deal.

In another letter, Gibson tells the inmate about a new case he's prosecuting against Chad Craig.

Gibson wrote, "He sexually abused two stepchildren really bad. He has confessed ... I am having trouble knowing just what is right. It is another really difficult case."

Monday, the state supreme court temporarily suspended Gibson's law license, saying he posed a substantial threat of irreparable harm to the public.

Public defender David Brady, who defended Adams in the murder case, confirmed Tuesday that the T.B.I. has interviewed him to find out what he knows about Gibson's role in that case.

Tuesday, Gibson met with his own attorneys Jack Lowery and Shawn Fry about the loss of his license.

"We just received the order from the Supreme Court today ...we'll be responding to that order,” said Lowery.

The attorneys are also dealing with the possibility that the T.B.I. investigation could lead to criminal charges against a sitting district attorney.

"There's are a lot of things going on out there. We need to monitor and understand and until we do we won't be making any statements about it,” Lowery said.

In the letters to that inmate, there is more than one occasion when Gibson discusses a case he's supposed to be prosecuting and indicates he's under stress about what to do.

The letters are also filled with references to God and letting a higher authority decide what kind of punishment an accused criminal should receive.

That religious fervor is apparently the link that led to the friendship between the prosecutor and the criminal.

It's a link that could also put Gibson behind bars.

In addition to Putnam County, Gibson is the DA for six other counties: Putnam, Clay, Cumberland, Dekalb, Overton, Pickett and White. He has been the district attorney for 16 years.

TBI Investigating Putnam Co. DA

Letters May Link DA To Inmate