Full Breakdown
Tennessee Mother Charged After Shooting Deaths of Two Daughters in Kenton
6/30/2026, 10:42:45 PM
Fatal Shooting in Kenton Home
On June 13, police responded to a Kenton, Tennessee residence after Tim Harris found his 1-year-old daughter, Landrie Harris, and his partner’s 11-year-old daughter, McKenna Young, dead from gunshot wounds. Their mother, Jessica Quarles, was discovered with critical stab wounds after a self-harm attempt, later released from hospital and arrested.
Timeline
- Dec 2023: Quarles announces engagement to Harris on Facebook.
- Jan 2026: Quarles posts plea for financial help for medical costs.
- Nov 2025: Harris posts “Headed to bed alone… Here we go again” and asks for news about Quarles.
- June 13: Children found shot; Quarles attempts self-harm; Harris discovers scene.
- June 13: TBI, Kenton Police, Obion County Sheriff’s Office, and the 27th Judicial District Attorney launch joint investigation.
- June 13: Mayor Danny Jowers says killings were intentional.
- June 13: Grand jury indicts Quarles; she is booked without bond.
- July 6: Arraignment scheduled.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Danny Jowers told WREG the killings were intentional and not accidental. A TBI press release said investigators identified Jessica Quarles as responsible. District Attorney Colin Johnson requested TBI assistance. Quarles was booked without bond.
Criticism & Opposition
Social-media users accused Tim Harris of involvement despite no police evidence. Quarles’s family held a candlelight vigil, denied her guilt, and urged prayers, arguing that assumptions about her capacity were unfounded.
On-the-Ground Reports
Friend Haley Paige Wilson said Harris “won’t get that picture out of his head” and described him as “a shell of himself.” She highlighted his love for both children, noting he “worked overtime to get McKenna a motorized wheelchair.”
Data & Statistics
Two children were killed: Landrie Harris (1 year) and McKenna Young (11 years). The incident occurred June 13 in Kenton, Obion County, Tennessee. Quarles was indicted, booked without bond, and will be arraigned July 6. She had been treated for stab wounds before indictment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Public speculation blamed Harris, while law-enforcement findings named Quarles as the shooter. Quarles’s family’s denial of guilt contrasts with the grand-jury indictment. No forensic details have been released, leaving motive unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To have to see what he saw — he's not going to get that picture out of his head,” — Haley Paige Wilson, longtime friend of Tim Harris
- “It was done intentionally. It was no accident,” — Danny Jowers, Kenton Mayor
- “He feels a little relief that, you know, that it's out there. That everybody knows what he knows. But at the same time, it doesn't make the weight of what happened any lighter.” — Rickey Dale Alexander, family member of Jessica Quarles
- “She kind of thrived on the drama," Wilson says.” — Haley Paige Wilson, friend of Tim Harris
What’s Next
Quarles is slated for arraignment on July 6 in Obion County Circuit Court. The TBI, Kenton Police, and the district attorney’s office continue to investigate, with further updates expected.
