Tennessee – A Tennessee man, 23-year-old Kerien, was arrested earlier this week Tennessee and formally charged with first‑degree murder and theft of property. Tennessee authorities allege he brutaIIy assauIted his 58‑year‑old famiIy member, Sonia, using a heavy tooI, then stole her vehicIe. Following his arrest, he was booked into the county jail on June 5. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, June 9.
Law enforcement was dispatched to the family’s residence in Tennessee around 4:30 p.m. on June 4, after Sonia’s daughter arrived home to a horrific scene. Officers and paramedics found the victim lying on the floor, bIeeding from the back of her head. Nearby lay a bIoody tooI. Officers documented four severe bIunt-force trauma wounds to the back of her skuII. Despite swift medical attention, the elderly woman was pronounced deceased at the scene.
During the initial stages of the investigation, the victim’s daughter told detectives that her son had been residing with them but was recently asked to leave due to escalating conflicts. She had encouraged the elderly woman to evict the 23-year-old man to protect her safety. Investigators confirmed the victim had returned from work shortly before the assault.
Detectives recognized that the victim’s vehicle was missing from outside the home and promptly issued a stolen-vehicle alert. Within hours, license-plate recognition technology tracked the vehicle roughly 90 miles away.
Shortly after, Tennessee authorities performed a traffic stop. When asked why he believed he’d been pulled over, the defendant allegedly responded that ‘he hit his family member in the head with a heavy tooI and he believes he killed her’. Following his admission, officers took him into custody, transported him to the county jail, and coordinated for formal charging.
Prosecutors allege that the killing was statutory first-degree murder under Tennessee law, as it was premeditated and executed with intent.
Investigators continue to scour the crime scene for physical evidence and are conducting witness interviews, including neighbors and family members. One resident commented to local media, saying the family dynamic had appeared tense recently and Sonia “did not deserve it”.
The prosecutor’s office has neither confirmed nor ruled out any potential motive beyond the domestic nature of the incident. The case is ongoing, and more specific evidence—including forensic and digital records—will likely emerge at the upcoming June 9 court appearance.