Tragic Death of Tennessee Professor Raises Questions
Last week, a college professor was discovered deceased on a road close to her home in Tennessee, while an armed man stood by, awaiting police intervention.
Ashley McKinzie, a 41-year-old sociology professor at Middle Tennessee State University, died from multiple gunshot wounds. Her body was found on a highway near Smithville, Tennessee, in the early hours of December 4, according to the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
Officers from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office located a loaded gun placed next to McKinzie’s body.
According to District Attorney Bryant Dunaway, Todd Stanton, 27, was at the scene with a firearm resting on the hood of his truck.
The nature of the relationship between McKinzie and Stanton remains unclear. Investigators have yet to provide any insights into how this respected educator ended up shot in the middle of the freeway.
No arrests have been made, but Stanton is reportedly cooperating with authorities.
As the investigation continues, McKinzie’s students are grappling with the loss of their instructor and reflecting on her influence on their lives.
This semester, McKinzie taught a course on “Domestic Violence” in the university’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Students have noted her expertise in difficult subjects like sexual assault and domestic violence, yet she always managed to engage them in meaningful discussions.
A student named Sierra Cruz shared, “I still think about that paper sometimes because it was actually a fun experience writing it in her class. Most students dread writing assignments, but Dr. McKinzie made it enjoyable.”
Similarly, another student, Olivia Kilpatrick, expressed shock, saying, “She was an advocate for nonviolence. To think she could be involved in something so violent is completely bewildering. What really happened?”
Kilpatrick recalled McKinzie’s last words in class, saying, “If you have a gut feeling, trust it. That’s something that will stick with me, especially considering she said it right before her passing.”
McKinzie held degrees from four institutions, including her doctorate from the University of Georgia in 2017, just a year before she joined the MTSU School of Social Anthropology.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, alongside the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, continues to look into the circumstances surrounding McKinzie’s death.
