Jurors on Tuesday sentenced Nathanial Pipkin to death for fatally shooting his mother, brother, and 11-year-old half-sister inside their Maury County home, with District Attorney Brent Cooper saying Pipkin had instructed his attorneys not to fight the ultimate punishment.
Background
The killings occurred shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2021, at the family's residence in the 2100 block of Double Branch Road in Columbia, about 40 miles southwest of Nashville. Pipkin, then 22, used a firearm to kill Traci McNeely, 44; Carson Pipkin, 20; and Kailee Warren, 11. His stepfather escaped by jumping out a window and ran to a neighbor for help.
Pipkin was arrested more than 100 miles from the scene after a traffic stop while wearing body armor. During his perp walk, he told a reporter that he acted in self-defense.
The Charges
Last week, a jury convicted Pipkin of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, along with other charges. On Tuesday, jurors deliberated about five hours before returning death sentences on each murder count, according to Cooper.
"The room was silent as the foreperson read the same verdict five times: 'The sentence shall be death.' Pipkin showed no emotion," Cooper said in a statement. He added that Pipkin had told his lawyers not to fight against the death penalty.
Key Takeaways
- Nathanial Pipkin, 22 at the time of the attack, was convicted and sentenced to death for three murders and attempted murder.
- Victims were Traci McNeely (44), Carson Pipkin (20), and Kailee Warren (11).
- The stepfather survived by escaping through a window and seeking help from neighbors.
- Pipkin claimed self-defense during his arrest but did not contest the death sentence.
What's Next
Pipkin remains in state custody following the sentencing. No additional court dates or appeals have been announced by prosecutors.