Brenda Dukes, a 47-year-old Black / African American female, lived a quiet life in Millington, Tennessee, that was tragically cut short on June 6, 2016. On that day, she and her wife, 49-year-old Rhonda Bishop-Dukes, were found deceased in their home on Matthews Road. The grim discovery was made by Rhonda's mother, who had grown worried after not hearing from her daughter for several days.
Investigators arriving at the scene determined that both women had died from fatal gunshot wounds, turning a peaceful suburban home into a crime scene.
The investigation into the double homicide soon focused on a neighbor who lived across the street, Michael Cullum. According to an affidavit, Cullum confessed to a witness that he had shot the two women. His motive appeared to be the theft of painkillers from their home. The affidavit revealed a chilling detail: after initially leaving the scene, Cullum returned to the house to steal the medication once he realized no one had heard the gunshots. This callous act underscored the tragic nature of the crime that had shaken the local community.
Michael Cullum, who was 46 or 47 at the time of the murders, had an extensive criminal history that included nearly a dozen arrests in Shelby County for a variety of offenses such as burglary, theft, robbery, arson, forgery, and aggravated assault. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Brenda and Rhonda Dukes. In a legal proceeding that brought a close to the case, Cullum entered an Alford plea. This type of plea meant he did not admit guilt but acknowledged that the prosecution had enough evidence to likely secure a conviction. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders. Cullum also faced charges for the murders of a father and daughter in a separate incident, ultimately receiving four life sentences for his crimes.
