Tyler Terry, the man from South Carolina who was connected to two murders in his home state, one in the Memphis area, and two more in St. Louis County in 2021, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to life for his multi-state killing spree. The sentencing took place on Monday in Clayton, Missouri.
After extensive negotiations with county prosecutors in South Carolina and Tennessee, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has reached a plea deal with Terry. As part of the agreement, Terry has pleaded guilty, and the death penalty has been waived by prosecutors in all three jurisdictions. This agreement will help avoid years of appeals related to the death penalty.
St. Louis County prosecutors have stated that the unified plea agreement effectively eliminates any chances of future legal challenges in any state.
In St. Louis County Circuit Court on Monday, Terry entered a guilty plea to a total of twelve charges. These included two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of first-degree robbery, and seven counts of armed criminal action.
In May 2021, Terry was charged with the murder of Terry Hardin, a trans woman in York, South Carolina. Reports suggested that Terry and Hardin had a romantic relationship prior to the incident.
During the night of May 15, 2021, 71-year-old Barbara Goodkin was fatally shot in the head while riding in a car with her husband in University City on Delmar. Just under an hour later, 58-year-old Dr. Sergei Zacharev was also shot and killed in a Brentwood parking lot near a restaurant and hotel. Tragically, Goodkin passed away at a hospital the following day.
On May 17, 2021, Simpson engaged in a shootout with Chester County police, leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, Terry managed to escape and became the target of a massive manhunt in South Carolina for almost a week. However, law enforcement officers were able to apprehend him on May 24, 2021, in Chester County.
It was discovered that Terry and Simpson were connected to the homicide of Danterrio Coats in Memphis, Tennessee.
Terry has already admitted to the murder of Hardin, Simpson, and Coats.
According to Rick Knox, the executive director of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis metropolitan area was shaken by a terrible crime. He stated that the victims, who were simply returning home from dinner, were assaulted on Delmar Boulevard. Dr. Zacharev, who had just arrived from Florida, was attacked without provocation while going about his own business. The incident was truly appalling.
According to the recent ruling of the St. Louis County Circuit Court, it has been ordered that the case related to Simpson must be kept sealed.
