In a quiet East Nashville neighborhood, the life of 68-year-old Thomas Roberts came to a tragic and sudden end on a July evening in 2023. Roberts, a male remembered by friends and colleagues as a 'gentle giant,' was a well-respected lighting technician in the music industry, having spent two decades working with country music star Randy Travis. His career was marked by a quiet professionalism and a warm, charismatic presence that left a lasting impression on those he worked with.
The
evening of the incident, police responded to a call at the Howard Avenue home Thomas shared with his wife, Christine Ann Roberts, 72. They found Thomas on the front porch with a single gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Christine, readily admitted to the shooting, telling officers that she had shot her husband because she believed he had been unfaithful to her. A pistol was recovered from the home.
Christine Ann Roberts was arrested and charged with criminal homicide. Her bond was initially set at $100,000. The case proceeded to trial, where the profound sadness of the situation was felt by all involved. Family members, some traveling from out of state and even overseas, attended the emotional three-day trial.
In May 2025, a jury took just two hours to find Christine Ann Roberts guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in the death of her husband. Following the conviction, she received an automatic life sentence. For the family of Thomas Roberts, the verdict, while heartbreaking, represented a form of justice for a man remembered for his kindness and his significant contributions to the Nashville music scene.
