Tennessee

Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support

TENNESSEE

Dyer County

*Father: CHRISTOPHER MILBURN
Victim(s): Stevie Noelle (15 years), foster father Todd Randolph, foster mother Susan Randolph (injured)
Date of Death: August 2009
Daughter disclosed sexual abuse by custodial father. Children’s Services placed her with foster family in the same neighborhood. Father shot daughter, foster parents in murder-suicide. In August 2010, non-custodial mother filed lawsuit against the State of Tennessee.

Fayette County

Father: SEAN LEIFER
Victim(s): Gage Leifer (9 months)
Date of Death: December 2009
In November 2010, father charged with 1st-degree murder. Boy’s death took place during father’s holiday visitation. In August 2011, father convicted of reckless homicide.

Hawkins County

Father: RANDALL LEE VAUGHN
Victim(s): Alexa Linbloom (5 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
In February 2014, custodial father, step charged with 1st-degree murder in death of daughter. Reported that mother lives out of state. Both pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder, sentenced to 35 years of prison in December 2014.

Hamilton County

* Father: DEDRICK LAMONT ATKINS
Victim(s): Dedric Johnson (5 years)
Date of Death: 2003
In September 2012, father pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder. Son's death took place during father's first visitation. Dad had extensive criminal and mental illness history, but was granted visitation anyway. It was not till 2011 that father was found fit to stand trial.

McNairy County

Father: ANTHONY DEON DILWORTH
Victim(s): Asher Drake (4 years)
Date of Death: August 2014
Girlfriend of custodial father charged with 1st-degree felony murder of child. But boy showed signs of abuse that had happened over a long time (multiple bruises, bite marks). Girlfriend claims that father frequently hit the child too. Father charged with child abuse and child neglect/endangerment because of prior signs of abuse. Police refused to identify the mother by name, saying that she was "not involved in the case" and "planning a funeral." No explanation as to how or why father was awarded custody or how he retained it.

Shelby County

Father: MAURICE BROWN SR.
Victim(s): Maurice Brown Jr. (3 years)
Date of Death: Late June/Early July 2012
Father charged with son's beating death, which took place during father's summer visitation. Boy's body found in dumpster.  Mother lived out of state. In August 2014, father found guilty of 1st-degree murder and sentenced to a minimum of 51 years.

Father: CURTIS LEE MORRIS, JR.
Victim(s): Isaiah Snipes (16 months)
Date of Death: November 2009
Father had just obtained custody of son, 3-year-old daughter in September 2009. Father charged with 2nd-degree murder. As of October 2014, no major change has been found in this case.

Father: TERRY PATTERSON
Victim(s): Josiah (3 years)
Date of Death: September 2015
Father with previous conviction for statutory rape granted joint custody. Mother fought for sole custody when boy returned to her with signs of abuse. Numerous complaints to CPS were ignored. Father now charged with 1st-degree murder.

Warren County

Father: MITCHELL STONE
Victim(s): Kayndace (3 years), Akeelia (1 year)
Date of Death: May 2009
Custodial father, stepmother charged in deaths of two girls. As of October  2014, no update to this case has been found.