In the early morning hours of January 13, 2020, the life of Tatanisha 'Nene' Berry, a 30-year-old woman, was tragically cut short in Meridian, Mississippi. The scene of the violence was a room at the America's Best Value Inn located on St. Paul Street. Responding to a call at approximately 6:30 a.m., officers from the Meridian Police Department arrived to find Ms. Berry deceased from a gunshot wound.
The incident also resulted in injuries to another man present at the location.
Later that same morning, around 7:45 a.m., a man named James Alexander Starks, who was 33 at the time, turned himself in to the authorities. The subsequent investigation revealed that Starks was the estranged boyfriend of Tatanisha Berry. The relationship had a history of trouble, as Starks had been charged with domestic violence just days prior, on January 9, and with telephone harassment on January 10, indicating a recent escalation of conflict leading up to the fatal encounter.
James Alexander Starks was charged with second-degree murder for the death of Tatanisha Berry and aggravated assault for the injuries sustained by the other man. In November 2022, Starks chose to plead guilty to the charges brought against him. This plea resulted in a sentence of 40 years in prison for second-degree murder. The district attorney noted that this sentence would provide a sense of closure and justice for Ms. Berry's family without the added trauma of a full trial. Starks also received a suspended 10-year sentence for the aggravated assault charge. Under the terms of his sentence, he is not eligible for early release or parole and will serve the entirety of the 40 years.
