In the early hours of March 8, 2020, the life of 29-year-old Juliana Elizabeth Fraley White was tragically cut short in Knoxville, Tennessee. A mother of two with a passion for her work in the hospitality industry, her death was the first in a violent chain of events that would claim two more lives and unravel a story of domestic turmoil.
Juliana's body was discovered lying in the road at the intersection of Liberty and Division streets, having been shot in the abdomen and left behind. Later that same morning, police were called to a home on Trousdale Road where they found two more victims: Juliana's 55-year-old mother, Mildred 'Millie' Blackwell, and Millie's roommate, 57-year-old Barbara Rogers. Both women had also been shot to death.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Desmon Paul Rhea, who was 27 at the time and had been living at the Trousdale Road residence. Evidence presented during his trial revealed a history of conflict, including an alleged assault by Rhea on Juliana just weeks before the murders. On the night of the killings, Juliana had made several 911 calls expressing fear about a prowler. Later, a frightened Barbara Rogers also called 911 to report shots fired before the line went dead.
Rhea was taken into custody without incident later on the day of the murders. The subsequent trial brought to light the harrowing details of that night. Prosecutors argued that Rhea shot Juliana while they were in her rental car before dumping her body. He then proceeded to the home he shared with her mother and roommate and killed them. Despite his defense attorney's arguments about a lack of physical evidence, a jury found Desmon Rhea guilty. He was convicted of the first-degree murders of Millie Blackwell and Barbara Rogers and the second-degree murder of Juliana White. Rhea was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, with an additional 37 years added to his sentence.
