In the quiet town of Oxford, Mississippi, a tragedy unfolded on the evening of March 18, 2019, forever altering the lives of two families. Tanya Denise Mathis, a 42-year-old Black female, was found dead in a home on County Road 147. The devastating incident cut short the life of a woman known for her dedication to her community and her work as a social worker at Mary Cathey Headstart.
Lafayette County Sheriff's deputies were called to the residence around 9 p.m. for a domestic disturbance. Upon their arrival, they discovered the bodies of Mathis and Anthony Patrick Hampton, 43. Both had sustained fatal single gunshot wounds. The home where the incident occurred belonged to a member of Hampton's family.
The ensuing investigation, conducted by the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, concluded that the event was a murder-suicide. Authorities determined that Hampton shot and killed Mathis before turning the gun on himself. The findings of the autopsies confirmed that both individuals died from the gunshot wounds.
As the perpetrator died at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or legal proceedings. The case was closed following the confirmation of the murder-suicide, leaving a community to mourn the loss of Tanya Denise Mathis, a beloved mother, daughter, and sister remembered for her sense of humor and her passion for helping children.
