A Gibson County judge on Tuesday shut down 24-year-old Frederick Yates' bid for a new trial, leaving intact his convictions in the 2021 Milan killings of two people. Yates, who was found guilty last year, was later sentenced in January 2026 to two consecutive life terms plus an additional 18 years behind bars.
As reported by WREG, the court rejected the defense request and declined to disturb the jury's verdict, finding the record strong enough to uphold the convictions. The ruling leaves the trial verdict untouched unless appellate courts decide to grant relief.
Case background
The killings took place on Aug. 23, 2021, near the 100 block of Wilburn Nelson Road in Milan, where 20-year-old Diamond Love and 21-year-old Marcus Smith Jr. were fatally shot, prosecutors said at trial. WBBJ reported on the indictment, trial testimony, and eyewitness accounts that prosecutors said connected Yates to the scene.
Sentence and verdict
Yates was sentenced on Jan. 12, 2026, in Gibson County Circuit Court to two consecutive life terms plus an additional 18 years, which prosecutors said amounted to an effective 138-year sentence. The sentence followed a three-day jury trial in September 2025, according to Action News 5.
Judge's ruling
The trial court said it found the "proof sufficient to support the finding of guilt in all counts," rejecting the defense arguments for a new trial, WREG noted. That written finding on the strength of the evidence was a key reason the judge declined to reopen the verdict.
What comes next
With the motion denied, Yates' attorneys can now seek appellate review in the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals to challenge trial rulings or any preserved errors. As outlined by the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, the state appellate process is the ordinary route for defendants seeking review of a criminal conviction.
Why this matters
The denial is the latest turn in a case that drew attention across West Tennessee. Hoodline earlier covered how Yates was convicted in September and later sentenced in January. Prosecutors have said the investigation involved TBI agents and multiple witnesses, and District Attorney Frederick Agee praised jurors and law enforcement following the verdict and sentence.
