In a tragic turn of events in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 21-year-old Khadijah Perry was cut short. On March 1, 2016, firefighters responded to a house fire in the 3700 block of Mountain Terrace, where they made a grim discovery. Inside the burning home, they found the body of Khadijah Perry. An autopsy would later reveal that she had not perished in the fire, but had died from a gunshot wound.
The investigation into her death took a further dark turn when, nine days later, Perry's
car was found engulfed in flames in a wooded area near Hawkins Mill and Point Church roads. This act was a clear attempt to destroy evidence and cover the tracks of the perpetrator.
After a lengthy investigation, a break in the case came when witnesses came forward with information implicating Cordell Walton, who was 23 years old at the time. These witnesses reported that Walton had spoken of killing Perry. Based on this and other evidence gathered by investigators, Walton was arrested on July 12, 2017. In April of 2018, a Shelby County grand jury indicted Walton on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and arson for the death of Khadijah Perry and the subsequent fire set at the home where her body was found. He was also indicted on a felony charge of setting fire to Perry's personal property, specifically her vehicle.
