In the early hours of June 2, 2023, the life of 23-year-old Tava Kristine Woodard, a White / Caucasian female, was tragically cut short in Johnson City, Tennessee. Woodard was working her shift as a clerk at the Roadrunner Market on North Broadway Street when two masked individuals entered the convenience store and robbed it at gunpoint. Despite her compliance with the robbers' demands, she was fatally shot by one of the assailants before they fled the scene. In the time leading up to the incident, Woodard had expressed feelings of unease about her safety at the store to her friends, particularly after a recent shoplifting incident and a malfunctioning panic button.
The Johnson City Police Department promptly launched an investigation, releasing surveillance footage to the public in an effort to identify the suspects. The community's response was crucial, with numerous tips leading authorities to a father and son duo. Mark Anthony Sexton Jr., 41, and his 18-year-old son, Mark Anthony Sexton III, were arrested in connection with the crime. A search of their home, located just a few blocks from the Roadrunner Market, uncovered a weapon, bullets, and clothing that matched those seen in the surveillance footage.
Both father and son were charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery. The younger Sexton faced additional charges of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and tampering with evidence. Court documents revealed that after Woodard had complied with their demands for money, Sexton III allegedly turned and shot her in the head as they were leaving. The legal proceedings against the Sextons are ongoing, with court appearances for status updates and motions. A trial date has been set for Mark Anthony Sexton Jr. in April 2025. The case has been described by Johnson City's police chief as one of the most heartbreaking in his nearly 30 years of law enforcement.
