Woman convicted of killing former state trooper on The Murfreesboro Post

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Woman convicted of killing former state trooper

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By: Lisa Marchesoni

Posted: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 3:13 pm

Woman convicted of killing former state trooper | MURDER TRIAL

Photo by Michelle Willard

Convicted murderer Tina Williamson showed little emotion when a jury found her guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder and felony murder of former state trooper General “Jack” Rains.

Williamson was convicted of shooting Rains five times in the back of the head Aug. 31, 2007 at his 106 McFarlin Ave. home off Old Woodbury Highway. He was a state trooper in the 1950s.

She faces a mandatory life sentence on felony murder, a murder committed while robbing Rains.

Circuit Court Judge Don Ash is expected to sentence Williamson April 13 on the second-degree murder and robbery convictions. He revoked her bond and ordered her into custody immediately.

Williamson mouthed “I love you” to her family as deputies Joe Rigsby and Reggie Primus escorted her from the courtroom.

Her attorney, Bob Peters, asked Ash to ask Sheriff Truman Jones to request her transfer to the Tennessee Women’s Prison to deal with her medical condition. Witnesses testified she suffers from severe back pain and diabetes.

The jury of six men and six women deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdict.

After Ash read the verdict, Williamson’s husband, Ron, comforted his 15-year-old daughter, Stephanie, while boyfriend Robert Motter comforted Williamson’s daughter, Jessica. Both daughters sobbed silently.

Rains family smiled when District Attorney William Whitesell spoke to them and advied them of the sentence.

Whitesell said he expects the second-degree murder conviction will be combined with the felony murder conviction. She faces a sentence of 15 to 25 years for the especially aggravated robbery conviction.

The persistence of Detectives Ralph Mayercik, Ty Downing and other detectives made the difference in the case, the prosecutor said.

“As in any investigation, mistakes were made but they (detectives) kept on” working until obtaining enough evidence to convict her, the prosecutor said.

Although he preferred a first-degree murder conviction, Whitesell said he respected the jury’s verdict 100 percent.

“I appreciate Detective Mayercik, Detective Downing and my assistant, Paul Newman,” Whitesell said.

Newman credited Vanderbilt University Law School intern Victoria Greer and MTSU criminal justice interns Kimberly Eckerd, Emily Troup and Maxine Jackson who helped interview witnesses and prepare the case.

They worked beyond their internship and helped with the trial and witnesses, Newman said.

Troup said it was satisfying to see the end result. She was happy for Rains’ survivors.

“They finally have closure,” Troup said.

Eckerd said she thought Williamson should have been convicted of first-degree murder, but like Troup said she’s “glad the family got closure.”

Tagged under MURDER TRIAL

Member Opinions:

By: Trvlace on 2/4/09
Well, don't guess she got away with murder. YEAH!!! Sad, but at least they nabbed her. The world is free of one more criminal.

By: barrettbear on 2/4/09
Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: cdmorgan on 10/13/10
Yes, it's very sad. It clearly states "mistakes were made" and it never directly ties her to the gun. I personally think too many mistakes were made and they were very quick to lay blame. I hope one day this will be over for her when they find out who really pulled the trigger. I also agree that if he hadn't previously been an officer, this would've ended differently. Also, I know people have the right to their own opinion, but pleae remember she has children and a family on here, and she is my sister.