A Middle Tennessee State University professor was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Thursday in DeKalb County, as state and local police begin to piecemeal together the night's events. The deceased, identified as 41-year-old Ashleigh McKinzie, was an associate professor in MTSU's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Her body was discovered on Smithville Highway near Captain’s Point Road with "apparent gunshot wounds," according to District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway's statement, as obtained by WSMV.
Authorities were responding to a shooting call early Thursday when they found McKinzie's body. A loaded and cocked handgun, which was determined to belong to McKinzie, was found next to her. Also at the scene, a 27-year-old man named Todd Stanton was present and is reportedly cooperating with investigators. "No criminal charges have been taken at this time," Dunaway conveyed, emphasizing the determination to thoroughly explore all facets of the mysterious shooting. This detail emerged in a Facebook post later cited by The Tennessean.
Further information shared by Dunaway noted that a handgun owned by Stanton was also found, placed on the hood of his truck. The involved agencies, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, are closely examining the case to untangle the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. Middle Tennessee State University released a statement later Thursday offering condolences to McKinzie's family and directed those affected to seek support through MTSU Counseling Services or the university’s Employee Assistance Program.
In the wake of the investigation, the DeKalb County community is left seeking answers. Dunaway underscored the intensity of the ongoing work: "Investigators are currently working diligently to determine the facts so that a full evaluation will be made," a sentiment he shared in statements referenced by both WKRN and WSMV. The TBI's involvement suggests a complex case, one that will, in time, require justly parsing through evidence and testimonies to unveil the truth behind McKinzie's untimely death.
