Who Is Timothy Batts? Hendersonville, Tennessee Father Murders Daughter On First Day Of School

The first day back to school is usually highly anticipated, but for one young girl from Tennessee it was also her last. Timothy Batts was charged Monday with murder for killing his 11-year-old daughter, Timea. The 29-year-old father initially claimed someone shot the girl during her walk home from the school bus, according to the New York Daily News.

Batts told police his daughter returned from school around 3:30 p.m. and had been shot after spending the day at Knox Doss Middle School in Hendersonville. The father then drove his daughter to a local hospital, where she died from gunshot wounds to her torso.

Even though Batts insisted his daughter was struck while outside, investigators determined that the sixth grader was shot inside the home rather than in front of it. Batts was then arrested on several charges including tampering with evidence, false reporting, reckless homicide and possessing a firearm as a felon.

Police revealed they have yet to find a motive behind the murder. Detective Sgt. Jim Vaughn of the Hendersonville Police Department told the media, “We really don’t know what led to the incident." Batts was booked at Sumner County Jail after midnight Monday and is being held on a $1 million bond.

Back in 2012, Batts was charged with criminal homicide for allegedly attempting to shoot a driver in Nashville. The Nashville City Paper reported that at the time Cheyenne Turner claimed that he was sitting at a traffic light when a car pulled up next to him with Batts in the back seat. Batts then recognized the man and fired a shot, striking him in the shoulder.

Neighbors of Timea Batts told the Tennessean that she was a cheerleader and a softball player. The group also held a vigil for the girl bringing candles and stuffed animals.

Batts is scheduled to appear in Sumner County General Session Court Aug. 24.