A Tennessee man is the second defendant to plead guilty in the 2022 murder of a 22-year-old woman who was lured to a party, tossed into a trunk, and then slain.
According to WTVF, Mya Fuller was fatally shot seven times and dumped in an abandoned lot in a remote region of Wilson County.
Ty’Shawne Bowles pled guilty to facilitation for exceptionally severe kidnapping on Tuesday, October 14, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, according to the site. Prosecutors said he became involved in the crime after learning of a conflict between his sister, Taiyana Tipton, and Fuller.
According to a news release from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, Tipton and Fuller had a fight the night before her murder.
Tipton identified Fuller to Bowles, who contacted her over social media and invited her to a party that evening. After leaving work, Fuller proceeded to the party, when a confrontation turned into a physical brawl between her and Tipton.
According to the release, Tipton put Fuller in the trunk of her car after the argument and drove her to Wilson County, where she shot Fuller seven times.
Bowles testified to witnessing the initial beating and hearing Tipton say “pop the trunk,” but denied seeing Fuller get inside the vehicle, according to WKRN. According to the site, he claimed to have been driving after his sister’s car until she got too far ahead.
Tipton pleaded guilty to all charges regarding the death in May and received a life sentence.
Tonya Fuller, Fuller’s mother, spoke at a hearing and expressed her disagreement with Bowles’ 12-year sentence, according to WKRN.
“Mya was murdered, she was beaten, and was tossed just like trash,” she informed us. “For a year and a half, the defense did nothing.” Silence. Quiet. “Cowards,” she said. “Today, we stand here with life for the defendants, and my daughter – intelligent, smart, kind, who has never done anything wrong — and we remain here under justice. “Justice has decided that this is the best path for the defendant.”
“Sometimes in criminal cases, people have different levels of involvement and responsibility,” District Attorney Jason Lawson told WTVF. “Today’s plea shows Ty’Shawne Bowles’ involvement in this case. He invited her there, thus he is responsible, but the evidence does not indicate that he intended or participated in her death.”
According to WSMV, La’Myra Pipkins is the third person charged in Fuller’s death. Pipkins has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder.
Her trial is scheduled for November.
