On a cold December evening in 2017, the community of Stanton, Tennessee, was shaken by the violent death of Tyion Deneze Taylor. The 40-year-old African American man was discovered in his car on Highway 70 on December 17th, having been shot multiple times. Investigators quickly determined that the motive for the killing was robbery, as both money and illegal drugs were found in his vehicle.
The Haywood County Sheriff's Department soon identified a suspect: 29-year-old Darrell 'Hell Rell'
Davis of Covington, Tennessee. Described as a known gang member with a history of violent felony convictions, including aggravated robbery and kidnapping, warrants were issued for his arrest. Following his capture, Davis was charged with felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case proceeded to trial, where prosecutors laid out the evidence against Davis. The jury was convinced of his guilt, and he was convicted on all charges. The court handed down a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, a measure of justice for a life cut tragically short. The prosecution was handled by District Attorney General Frederick Agee and Deputy District Attorney General Jerald Campbell.
However, in a significant turn of events, a circuit court judge ordered a new trial for Darrell Davis in March 2025. The decision came after a hearing in December 2024 that examined claims of potential legal errors during the original trial that may have compromised the verdict. This development has reopened the case, leaving the final chapter in the story of Tyion Taylor's death yet to be written.
