In the small community of Telford, Tennessee, a tragedy unfolded on November 6, 2022, ending the life of 43-year-old Tara Roberts. A white female, Roberts was fatally shot in the head at a residence on Rauhof Road, a place that would become the scene of a grim investigation.
The man responsible for her death, 42-year-old David Story, was quickly identified and apprehended at the scene. In a startling admission, Story himself called 911 and confessed to intentionally shooting Roberts. His stated reason for this violent act was that he was 'tired of her talking to him.' A witness at the residence corroborated the chilling events, reporting hearing a gunshot and then seeing Story emerge from the room, issuing a threat for the witness to leave.
Following a brief standoff with deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Story was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and held at the Washington County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. Further investigation into Story's background revealed a prior criminal history, including a conviction for aggravated statutory rape in 2016.
The legal proceedings against David Story culminated on May 29, 2024. During a motions hearing, just before his scheduled appearance in criminal court, Story accepted a plea agreement. The agreement reduced the charge from first-degree murder to second-degree murder. Judge Lisa Rice accepted the plea deal, sentencing Story to 35 years in prison. A condition of his sentence is that he must serve 100% of the term, ensuring he will remain incarcerated for the entirety of the 35 years for the death of Tara Roberts.
