In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 8, 2022, the life of 29-year-old Preston Paul Jass was tragically cut short in the parking lot of the 18 Thirty Apartments on Spring Branch Drive in Madison, Tennessee. Jass was discovered just after 3 a.m., having been fatally shot. The scene that greeted investigators hinted at a robbery gone wrong, as documents, including social security cards and car titles, were found scattered on the ground near his body. At least one vehicle in the vicinity appeared to have been burglarized, suggesting a potential motive for the violent encounter.
The investigation into the male's death was led by Homicide Unit Detective Tyler Manivong. For nearly a year, detectives pieced together the evidence, working to identify the individual responsible for Jass's death. Their efforts eventually pointed to Trentaree Starling, a 26-year-old man.
In March 2023, the investigation culminated in a significant breakthrough. A grand jury indicted Starling on the charge of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Preston Jass. Acting on the indictment, detectives with the TITANS unit arrested Starling. He was subsequently jailed in lieu of a $100,000 bond, awaiting a hearing before a Criminal Court judge. The arrest brought a measure of progress in a case that had left a family grieving and a community seeking answers.
