In the autumn of 2018, the life of 45-year-old Erik William Helffenstein was tragically cut short in Nashville, Tennessee. A man described as a 'Gentle Giant,' he was a devoted husband and a father to two young children. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Erik had built a life in Nashville filled with love for his family, woodworking, and outdoor activities.
On the evening of October 29, 2018, Helffenstein witnessed burglars breaking into a vehicle outside his home in the Traceside
subdivision. When he went outside to confront them, the individuals fled the scene in a black SUV. In an act of bravery, Helffenstein got into his own vehicle and pursued them. As the chase proceeded down Highway 100 in Bellevue, shots were fired from the suspects' vehicle, striking and fatally wounding him.
The getaway vehicle, a black Nissan Rogue that had been stolen in Mt. Juliet, was later found abandoned in a parking area of an apartment complex in Hermitage. While the investigation led police to two men who had used stolen credit cards belonging to the owner of the Nissan Rogue, neither individual provided any significant information regarding Helffenstein's murder. To this day, the case remains unsolved, and West Precinct detectives continue to ask the community for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible for his death.
