Mother facing slew of charges, including criminally negligent homicide in teen’s suicide
MNPD explained that the mother allegedly taught her two sons how to shoot guns in the woods a week before the suicide.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The mother of a 15-year-old boy who died by suicide on Halloween was arrested Thursday, Nov. 14 on 21 charges related to his death, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
MNPD reports Tabitha Ward, 34, lost custody of her two sons (the 15-year-old and his 14-year-old brother) in May but allegedly refused to cooperate with the Department of Children’s Service and told the boys to run from state custody.
However, Ward signed DCS documents agreeing she would not harbor the boys, who have been listed as runaways ever since. MNPD said the night of the suicide, six guns were recovered from inside her home on Cross Timbers Drive, including the one police believe was used in the suicide.
“Ward has previous felony convictions and should not be in possession of any firearms,” MNPD said. “Additionally, the investigation revealed Ward not only possessed multiple firearms, but the week prior to her son’s suicide, she taught the boys how to shoot the guns in the woods.”
Police added that Ward’s roommate told detectives that after she found her son in his room with a gunshot wound, Ward transferred a backpack with all six guns to the roommate’s bedroom before first responders arrived. The teen was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
Ward is charged with criminally negligent homicide alongside multiple counts of evidence tampering, felony weapon possession, aggravated child endangerment, custodial interference, harboring runaways and contributing to the delinquency of minors. She remains jailed on a $116,000 bond.
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