In a quiet home on County Road 208 near Athens, Tennessee, the life of 52-year-old Ricky J. Charles, a Caucasian male, came to a violent end on the night of Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The events of that evening stemmed from what neighbors described as a volatile relationship between Charles and his live-in girlfriend, Angie Branham. The McMinn County Sheriff's Office confirmed they had been called to the residence on multiple occasions to intervene in disputes, some involving violence and
others theft.
On that particular night, another argument erupted between Charles and Branham, escalating into a physical altercation. Present in the home was Branham's 19-year-old son, Triston Stephens. Witnesses reported that as the fight between his mother and Charles intensified, Stephens retrieved a gun. In what one neighbor characterized as an act of defending his mother, Stephens shot Charles.
When deputies arrived at the scene, Stephens was no longer present, having fled after the shooting. However, he later surrendered to the authorities. Following an investigation based on evidence and witness statements, Triston Stephens was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Ricky J. Charles's death. He was subsequently booked into the McMinn County Jail on a $50,000 bond. In the aftermath of the criminal proceedings, Charles's family pursued a civil case, filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the individual they believed responsible for his demise. The civil court ultimately ruled in favor of the family, awarding them a significant settlement.
