Man Indicted in Murder, Car Theft

July 21, 2020 – A 37-year-old man was indicted Tuesday in a December shooting at a convenience store in the Hickory Hill area in which another man was killed and his car was stolen, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury indicted defendant Jarvis Hall on counts of first-degree murder, felony murder in the perpetration of a theft, and theft over $2,500.

Investigators said Mario Moody, 40, was killed in the incident on Dec. 5, 2019, at the Pump and Munch Store at Shelby Drive and Kirby Parkway.

Witnesses said they saw the two men arguing before Hall shot Moody multiple times, pulled him from his car and then drove away in Moody’s car. The vehicle was recovered a short time later.

Hall was charged and arrest in April.

The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Theresa McCusker of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 1 which handles cases in General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7 and in Criminal Court Division 1.

Marshals Justified in Suspect’s Death

July 10, 2020 – Federal marshals acted within the law in the shooting death last year of an armed Memphis man they were trying to arrest on felony assault warrants, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

The incident involved five members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force and Brandon Webber who was wanted for shooting a Hernando, Miss., man multiple times and stealing his car.

Webber, 20, had later posted online videos of himself driving the stolen car and showing a tactical rifle with a pistol grip with two high-capacity magazines in the front seat. On another video Webber shows a passing police car and says into the camera “F--- 12 (police). If they turn their dumb ass around it’s on. This s--- going to be fun.”

At around 6:30 p.m. on June 12, 2019, the marshals located Webber in the stolen car backed in the driveway at 2075 Durham Ave. and attempted to pin him in with their vehicles. Webber tried to escape by backing up and then going forward. He rammed one of the marshal’s vehicles, but had nowhere to go.

When two marshals attempted to remove him from the vehicle Webber grabbed his tactical rifle and pointed it at them. The two marshals immediately retreated, shouted “Gun, gun, gun” and fired at Webber. Three other marshals providing cover fired as well.

“Under the law in Tennessee, officers are not required to wait until they are fired upon,” Gen. Weirich said. “They may use deadly force when they have probable cause to believe that the individual to be arrested poses a threat of serious bodily injury, either to the officer or to others unless immediately apprehended.”

She said her decision is based solely on Tennessee criminal law and does not consider policies, procedures or training requirements of the U.S. Marshals Service or of any state or local law enforcement agencies. The decision also does not consider disciplinary policies of the agencies or civil liability.

Convicted Rapist Sentenced to Life

July 6, 2020 – A Memphis man on parole for a 1994 murder was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the abduction and rape of a young woman in 2015, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Sean Rainer, 42, who was convicted in March of aggravated kidnapping and rape, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison without parole by Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee.

The incident occurred on April 17, 2015, when a 20-year-old woman walking on Airways and Ketchum was abducted by Rainer and forced into his truck. She said he threatened to “snap” her neck if she did not cooperate.

The woman said Rainer, who also used the names Sean Mitchell and Antwon Rainer, told her had just served 16 years in prison and did not fear going back. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing an Orange Mound man and wounding his girlfriend in 1994, but was paroled after serving less than a third of his sentence.

The 2015 victim said Rainer drove her to an apartment near Hacks Cross and Winchester where he raped her. She eventually managed to escape, and a minister who lived in the complex saw her and called police.

Rainer followed her in his truck for a short period, and was arrested after the victim pointed him out to police. He had fallen asleep in his truck parked outside the apartment gate.

The case was handled by Felony Assts. Stacy McEndree and Austin Nichols.

Man Indicted in Murder of Woman, Baby

July 2, 2020 – A southeast Shelby County man has been indicted in the stabbing deaths of his former girlfriend and their 5-month-old son who were found in their burning house last year, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Enoch Zarceno Turner, 25, was indicted on first-degree murder charges, aggravated child abuse, aggravated arson and especially aggravated burglary.

Sheriff’s deputies last Sept. 13 were called to the residence in the 6900 block of Bennington Circle where a family member found the house filled with smoke.

In an upstairs bedroom Heather Cook, 32, and her baby, Bentley, were found dead from multiple stab wounds. A fire centered in the bedroom appeared to have been intentionally set, according to the fire marshal. Relatives said Turner and Cook had been in an argument over child custody issues. Turner was arrested later that day.

The case is being prosecuted by Eric Christensen and Paul Hagerman.

Christensen is Chief Prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit which handles cases of rape, child sex abuse, severe physical abuse of child victims, elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse.

Hagerman is Chief Prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies & Narcotics Prosecution Unit which incorporates and expands the work of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, the Organized Crime Unit, Project Safe Neighborhoods/GunDone, GunStat, the Safe Streets Task Force and the Violent Crime Unit.

Teacher Indicted for Alleged Sexual Involvement With Students

July 2, 2020 – A Cordova High School teacher has been indicted for allegedly having sexual contact with two senior students, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury this week Mary Eddington, 47, on felony counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and sexual battery by an authority figure.

According to the indictment, Eddington had an ongoing sexual relationship with one student and that she groped another student’s genitals several times while providing tutoring in a classroom.

Both students were 17 when the sexual activity began at the start of the 2019-20 school year. School officials reported the matter to Shelby County Sheriff’s detectives who began an investigation in December.

The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Lessie Rainey of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit which prosecutes cases of rape, child sex abuse, severe physical abuse of child victims, elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse.

Pair Indicted in Robbery, Murder Scheme

July 2, 2020 – A Memphis man and a teenage girl were indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder and other charges in an alleged scheme in which the victim was lured to a home where he was robbed and shot, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury also indicted Jalen Braden, 26, and Breanna Williams, 17, on felony charges of tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Investigators said that on July 3, 2019, Williams, then 15, invited 20-year-old Baba Said to a house in the 1400 block of Amarillo St. near Kimball and Semmes. When he arrived, however, Braden confronted him with a gun, robbed him of $20 and shot him in the back of the head.

Braden and Williams then wrapped the victim’s body in plastic bags, placed it in trunk of his car and disposed of it in a drainage ditch near Park and Getwell. Said’s car was found on the interstate the following day, prompting a missing-person search for Said.

A GPS ping from Said’s phone led searchers to the area of the Amarillo residence where several days later investigators saw a sofa on the curb with a large blood stain. More blood was found in Braden’s house, and he eventually gave police a statement of is involvement.

Said’s body was discovered by a boater three months later near a marina at Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park.

The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor David Zak and Felony Assistant Paige Munn of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court Division 10.   

Man Indicted in Machete Attack on Family

July 1, 2020 – A 35-year-old man was indicted Wednesday in a machete attack earlier this year in which his teenage daughter was killed and his wife was critically injured, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Ledis Sanchez of the 3800 block of Vernon Ave. was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

The incident occurred on Feb. 16, 2020, when witnesses said Sanchez arrived at the house to gather his clothes because he was moving out. Instead, he grabbed a machete and began attacking his wife, fracturing her skull and cutting her arms and hands.

She managed to escape and call for help, but Sanchez then attacked his 18-year-old daughter Sierra Howard with the machete. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Sanchez fled, but turned himself in to police hours later.

The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Shelby Patrick and Chief Prosecutor Greg Gilbert of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) which handles cases of domestic assault and homicide committed by intimate partners. Cases are handled in General Sessions Division 10 and in Criminal Court Division 5.

The DVU works closely with the Family Safety Center and with numerous other victim service providers to provide assistance to victims and their families.   

Lawyer Sentenced for Thefts from Clients

June 30, 2020 – A Memphis attorney who pled guilty to two felony counts of stealing client funds has been sentenced to 15 years on Community Corrections and was ordered to make restitution of nearly a half million dollars, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Michael Skouteris, a former partner in the firm of Skouteris Walk, PLLC, earlier this year pled guilty to theft of property over $250,000 and theft of property over $10,000 counts of theft of property.

His sentence this week in Criminal Court includes restitution totaling $467,462.25.

Investigators said Skouteris, 50, admitted that on numerous occasions he settled cases for clients, but kept the settlement funds for himself without ever notifying the clients. In the second felony count, when his law partner discovered the misappropriation of client funds, Skouteris withdraw funds from the firm’s trust account after the Tennessee Supreme Court prohibited him from accessing the account.

He has been disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Skouteris pled guilty earlier this month in federal court on bank fraud charges in connection with the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced there on Sept. 24.

The state case was handled by Asst. Dist. Attys. Byron Winsett and Forrest Edwards.

Cold-Case Rapist Sentenced to 15 Years

June 30, 2020 – A 55-year-old man linked by his DNA to a pair of rape attacks that occurred more than 30 years ago was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison without the possibility for parole, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Defendant Jimmy Love pled guilty to two counts of aggravated rape stemming from incidents that occurred in July of 1986 and in November of 1987. He was sentenced by Criminal Court Judge W. Mark Ward. He also will be on the Sex Offender Registry and on Community Supervision for life.

Love was indicted as an unknown John Doe in 2015 when his DNA profile was identified from rape kit of one of his two victims. The kits in both cases were part of a large backlog that were not examined until years later.

In 2017 the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) identified Love as the perpetrator in the 1986 case. He was indicted in 2018 on the second rape when he again was identified through DNA evidence.

Love, a former Memphian, was extradited from a Florida prison where he is serving four life sentences for a series of sex crimes, assaults and other violent offenses. He apologized to one of the victims who attended the hearing Tuesday.

The Memphis cases were handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Gavin Smith of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit which handles cases of rape, child sex abuse, severe physical abuse of child victims, elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse.

Convicted Rapist Indicted in 2001 Murders

June 23, 2020 – A 70-year-old man whose left-behind dentures linked him to a 2001 rape has now been indicted on the murders of two women whose bodies were found a month later in remote area of Frayser, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A Shelby County Grand Jury this month indicted Thomas Maupin in the separate murders of the two women whose bodies were found in a weeded area near the dead-end of Old Millington Road south of Fite Road. 

The body of Nancy Carol Alvis, 46, was found on Oct. 22, 2001. Her decomposed body was identified by dental records. She had been strangled weeks earlier, medical examiners determined. 

While sheriff’s investigators were doing follow-up work the next day, they discovered the body of Patricia Cook Thornton, 37, in the same area. Medical examiners determined she had been stabbed and that she had been dead for about two days. 

Maupin was among suspects at that time, but was not charged. He admitted often taking women to the dead-end of Old Millington road to have sex for money. Maupin said he knew both women as frequent customers of Harpo’s, a Frayser bar on U.S. 51 not far from the crime scene.

In 2017, a review of a cold-case rape kit led to his indictment and guilty plea in the August 2001 stabbing and rape of a 31-year-old woman in the 1200 block of Thomas near Frayser Blvd. A set of dentures collected and tagged by crime scene investigators was placed in the police property room with a sexual assault kit, including DNA evidence that became part of a backlog and was not tested until many years later.

In July of 2016, the dentures were taken to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for testing, and a partial DNA profile was developed that was consistent with that of Maupin. His name also was imprinted on the dentures. 

He pled guilty to the rape a year later and is serving an eight-year sentence at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, about 50 miles northeast of Nashville.

The solving of the cold-case rape led to a reopening of the unsolved murders.

Maupin came to Memphis after serving 12 years in Washington for the 1988 abduction and murder of a 6-year-old girl in Spokane. He was twice convicted and sentenced to 40 years, but the convictions were overturned on appeal and he was released in 1997 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

The Memphis cases are being handled by Chief Prosecutor Eric Christensen of the DA’s Special Victims Unit and by Dist. Atty. Abby Wallace, a former member of that unit which prosecutes cases of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse of child victims; rape and aggravated rape of adult victims, and abuse of elderly and vulnerable adults.

DA Announces New Community Justice Plan

June 22, 2020 – Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich today unveiled plans for a Community Justice Program aimed at giving communities a larger and more active role in the criminal justice process.

The grassroots alternative to traditional prosecution is designed to restore victims and communities impacted by crime. Participation by victims and offenders is voluntary, and cases will be heard by volunteers on Community Justice Panels.

“After hearing from a victim in a case involving theft or vandalism, for example, the panel might order restitution, community service and even an apology from the offender,” said DA Weirich. “The panel also will listen to offenders to see what help can be provided – education, job training, counseling – to make them contributing members of the community.”

The program is in phase one, which is community engagement. DA Weirich said the key to the program’s success will be the level of interest and participation in the community. Recruitment of volunteers and finding sites for the twice-monthly meetings is underway.

Among community leaders helping to shape the program are Deandre and Vinessa Brown of Lifeline 2 Success, Senior Pastor Ricky Floyd of the Pursuit of God Transformation Center, and child-wellness advocate Charlie Caswell who is also Outreach Pastor at Impact Ministries Baptist Church. Other partners include Advance Memphis, Agape, HopeWorks, Memphis Urban League, Seedco and Youth Villages.

Man Pleads Guilty to Rape of Young Girls

June 17, 2020 – A 44-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison without parole for raping two young girls over a period of years, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

James Wanye Bernard, who lived in the Wolfchase area, pled guilty to two counts of rape and was sentenced by Criminal Court Judge James Lammey.

In September of last year, police received a complaint that Bernard was exchanging sexually explicit messages and photographs on the internet with another user who was identified as a 14-year-old girl.

The messages included explicit references to past, ongoing and future sexual activity between Bernard and the girl. When questioned by police, Bernard admitted having sexual relations with the girl and with her 13-year-old sister on multiple occasions for at least three years.

The case was handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Devon Dennis of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) which prosecutes cases of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse of child victims; rape and aggravated rape of adults victims, and abuse of elderly and vulnerable adults.

SVU reviews child-victim cases with Shelby County’s multi-agency Child Protection Investigative Team (CIPIT).

Man Firing at Carjack Suspect Indicted on Murder Count

June 12, 2020 – A man who fired at a fleeing carjacking suspect in Parkway Village and hit the suspect’s female companion has been indicted on second-degree murder charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Lakendrick Bunting, 25, also was indicted on charges of attempted second-degree murder and six counts of employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

The incident began around 3 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2019, when an 18-year-old man traveling with friends pulled into a service station at South Perkins and Knight Arnold and attempted to steal a car parked with its motor running.

The car belonged to Bunting who came out of the station’s convenience store and began shooting at the suspect who quickly got out and ran to his own car and drove off.

Bunting pursued the suspect while firing more shots, one of which struck one of the suspect passengers, 17-year-old Kemi Bacon. A short time later she was found dead by the roadside in the 4100 block of Cochese.

Bunting admitted shooting at the fleeing suspect, but said someone in the car shot at him first.

The case is being handled by the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 5 which prosecutes cases in General Sessions Division 13 and in Criminal Court Division 9.

Man Indicted in Death of Girlfriend

June 10, 2020 – A southeast Memphis man has been indicted in the death of his girlfriend who was found wounded in a bathtub and died nearly a year later, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury this week indicted Jeremy Griffin, 28, on second-degree murder charges in the incident involving 26-year-old Stephani Shanks.

On March 25, 2017, police were called to an apartment in the 3300 block of Madras Place near Hickory Hill and Knight Arnold where they found the victim in a tub of water with a gunshot wound to the head.

She was hospitalized in critical condition and died on Feb. 4 the following year. The medical examiner said the cause of death was the gunshot wound.

Griffin told investigators that his gun accidentally went off during an argument.

The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Greg Gilbert of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit which prosecutes felony cases of domestic assault and homicide committed by intimate partners.

The Unit also works closely with the Shelby County Family Safety Center to provide services and assistance to victims and their families.

Man Indicted in Fatal Lounge Shooting

June 5, 2020 – A 22-year-old man has been indicted on first-degree murder and other charges related to a shooting last December outside of a lounge on Summer Avenue, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Defendant Cederick Ivory also was indicted by the grand jury on charges of attempted first-degree murder and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

The shootings occurred the night of Dec. 11, 2019, at the James Lounge in the 3100 block of Summer where an argument that began inside the club spilled outside into the parking lot where a crowd gathered.

During the commotion, 27-year-old Anthony Travis was shot and killed, while another man was shot in the back and critically wounded.

The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Neil Umsted of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and Criminal Court Division 3.

3 Family Members Indicted in Murder Case

June 5, 2020 – Two brothers and their mother have been indicted in the shooting death last year of a 60-year-old man who they mistakenly believed had accosted the mother earlier, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury this week indicted Favian Effinger, 26, Miguel Effinger, 21, on charges of first-degree murder. Their mother, Gjuandell Effinger, 50, was indicted on solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

On Nov. 24, 2019, police were called to a Raleigh shopping center in the 3800 block of Austin Peay Highway where they found Nazario Garcia dead from multiple gunshot wounds. He was lying near his white panel truck and had been shot with a shotgun and a handgun in the front and in the back.

Investigators said Gjuandell told her sons that Garcia had tried to abduct her and posted video on social media showing his white panel truck, license tag and his location. The brothers arrived a short time later in separate vehicles and confronted Garcia as he came out of a store.

Witnesses identified the Effinger brothers as the shooters, and police took them into custody two days later. Their mother also was arrested and charged.

The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Jimmy Thomas of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 1 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 7 and in Criminal Court Division 1.

Whitehaven Man Indicted on Murder Charges

June 4, 2020 – A 25-year-old man was indicted this week on first-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting an acquaintance in the head while a small group was playing video games last year at a Whitehaven apartment, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Investigators said the incident occurred on the evening of Oct. 30, 2019, at the Peppertree Apartments where defendant Cortavious Johnson was with several friends who were gathered around a television at an apartment at 4299 Graceland.

Witness said Johnson, without warning, walked up behind Rafael Grace, 22, pulled a pistol and shot him in the back of the head. Grace was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson, who was wanted in a non-fatal shooting from the previous week, was taken into custody about 10 days later.

The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Stacy McEndree of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court Division 10.

Suspect Who Dropped ID While Fleeing Indicted in Murder Case

June 4, 2020 – A gunman who killed one man and wounded another last year at a convenience store near Orange Mound has been indicted on first-degree murder charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury also indicted 24-year-old defendant Antonio Whitmore Jr. on charges of aggravated assault.

The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 2 last year at the Save-a-Stop store in the 2700 block of Kimball near Lamar and Pendleton. Witnesses said two men were arguing outside the store and that one of them ran inside the store and tried to hide behind the counter.

The other man, who was armed with a gun, ran inside, stood on the counter and began firing, killing Jason Phoummavong, 25, who was shot in the head. The store owner who also was behind the counter was shot in the arm.

Witnesses said the gunman, who was wearing a neon vest and uniform pants, ran out of the store, but dropped his FedEx photo ID in the parking lot. Whitmore turned himself in to police two days later, and was fired by FedEx.

The case is being handled by Felony Assistant Stacy McEndree of the DA’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and Criminal Court Division 10.

Man Indicted in Sex Trafficking Case

May 26, 2020 – A 29-year-old man has been indicted on multiple counts of forcing a 14-year-old girl to perform sex for money with customers solicited through online ads, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury indicted Arthur D. Hopkins on 10 felony counts of trafficking for commercial sex acts. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

On July 27, 2019, Memphis police and FBI agents responded to an online ad offering sex and were instructed to come to a motel in the 5100 block of American Way where they made contact with the young girl in a room.

She said Hopkins had placed the ad and that he was her pimp. Hopkins was located at a swimming pool downstairs from the victim’s room. He gave officers a statement of admission and was taken into custody.

Hopkins recruited the young girl through Facebook and sold her for sex acts with adult males over a period of several months, according to investigators.

The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Devon Dennis of the DA’s Special Victims Unit which prosecutes cases of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse of child victims; rape and aggravated rape of adult victims, and abuse of elderly and vulnerable adults.

Two Indicted in Robbery Try Murder

May 23, 2020 – Two men have been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death last year of one man and the wounding of another man who was left paralyzed, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury this week indicted Lundarius Brown, 20, and Melvin Tyler, 18, on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts each of employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, and attempted especially aggravated robbery.

Killed in the incident was Hussein Hassan, 18, who died of multiple gunshot wounds on Oct. 8, 2019, at Barton and South Parkway. A companion, also 18, was critically wounded and was left paralyzed by the shooting.

Brown was arrested in December and Tyler was arrested in February of this year at a home in Birmingham. Both were captured by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force.

The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Stacy McEndree of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court Division 10.