In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Lithonia, Georgia, a devastating scene unfolded, forever altering the lives of a family. Tasharina Fluker, a 41-year-old woman, was found shot to death inside her townhome on Parkway Trail on March 22, 2017. Alongside her was her 26-year-old daughter, Janazia Myles, who had also been fatally shot. The discovery was made by a family member who arrived at the home to find a tragic and silent scene, with the exception of the cries of Myles' 8-month-old daughter, who was thankfully unharmed.
The hours leading up to the horrific event had been filled with celebration, as Fluker had been out with her daughter for her birthday. They returned home late in the evening, and it was shortly after that their lives were violently taken. Neighbors later reported hearing arguments at the residence, a detail that would become a crucial part of the investigation that followed. The DeKalb County police were called to the scene around 3 a.m. after receiving a 'person down' call.
The investigation quickly focused on one individual: Michael Thorton, 40, who had been in a relationship with Tasharina Fluker for about a year. Family members revealed that Fluker had recently ended the relationship and had asked Thorton to move out of her home. They described him as possessive, a trait that had caused concern among those close to her. Thorton was located by police and taken into custody.
Charged with two counts of murder, Michael Thorton initially claimed that the women had 'jumped' him and the gun had accidentally discharged. However, the evidence did not support his account. In a turn of events, Thorton ultimately pleaded guilty to the murders. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison, ensuring that he would be held accountable for the senseless and tragic loss of two vibrant women, a mother and her daughter, whose lives were cut short in an act of domestic violence.
