A peaceful day on the Smithville Highway changed into a grief-stricken moment on Thursday when a 41-year-old Ashleigh McKinzie, who was honored in sociology and a Middle Tennessee State University faculty member for a long period of time. She was tracked dead along the roadside.
They discovered her body around 4:51 a.m., lying in the road with wounds from a gunshot, according to the deputies, and she was confirmed dead at that spot.
On her side was an armed handgun, later confirmed to belong to her, and another gun, which was registered to a 27-year-old Todd C. Stanton, was found on the hood of his truck. He was seen at the scene and is cooperating with the police. Charges are yet to be filed.
Ashleigh enrolled at MTSU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology in 2017. And was known for her legacy which was built on dedication towards students and her warm, steady presence on campus. Her coworker said she brought stillness to every classroom and was often greeting people with a calm smile as she arranged her notes for morning lectures.
The local investigators, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, will keep on working to comprehend what happened at the scene. Information concerning how many times she was shot or the positions of her wounds is yet to be released.
Presently, the community is grieving about the death of Ashleigh, taken early, and the campus leans on one another as the investigation for answers is pursued.
