In the early hours of May 17, 2021, the quiet streets of the Raleigh neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, became the final resting place for Danterrio Cortez Coats. The 34-year-old Black/African American man was discovered unresponsive in the road at the intersection of Scheibler Road and Priscilla Avenue around 2:00 a.m. He had been fatally shot, leaving a community in shock and a family searching for answers. His partner, Michelle Williams, grew worried when he didn't return home from work that night. After hours of anxious searching and calls to the authorities, she and Coats' mother received the devastating news of his death.
The investigation into the tragic death of Danterrio Cortez Coats soon revealed a chilling connection to a violent, multi-state crime spree. The perpetrators were identified as Adrienne Simpson and Tyler Terry, a couple who had embarked on a deadly rampage. Their spree of violence spanned several states, leaving a trail of victims in their wake. Coats tragically became one of their victims during this violent journey.
Following an intense week-long manhunt, law enforcement apprehended Simpson and Terry in Chester County, South Carolina. During their capture, they confessed to the series of murders and other crimes they had committed. In connection with the death of Danterrio Cortez Coats, Adrienne Simpson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Tyler Terry also faced charges for his role in the crime spree and was scheduled for court appearances. The resolution of the case brought a measure of justice for Coats' family, though it could never erase the pain of their sudden and senseless loss.
