NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A significant development came just days before a scheduled jury trial when one of the suspects charged in connection to the murder of 22-year-old Mya Fuller pleaded guilty to all charges related to the crime.
Taiyana Tipton, 21, appeared unexpectedly in a Wilson County courtroom on Tuesday for a readiness hearing. Instead of preparing for trial, Tipton made the decision to plead guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, felony first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse. District Attorney Jason Lawson expressed surprise at the change of course, stating that the prosecution was fully prepared to take the case to trial, where they believed they could achieve a similar outcome.
The case stems from the tragic death of Mya Fuller, a Murfreesboro woman whose body was discovered in a wooded area in Wilson County in August 2022. Fuller had been reported missing by her family members on July 29, 2022, following her attendance at an event at Geodis Park in Nashville. The following day, she was last seen at the Island Vibes nightclub in Antioch before vanishing.
A few days after her disappearance, Fuller’s body was found behind a property under development off Trammel Lane in Wilson County. An autopsy later confirmed she had died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Tipton, along with her brother Ty’Shawne Bowles, 20, and their associate La’Myra Pipkins, 20, were all arrested in connection to Fuller’s death. Tipton and Bowles faced charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse, while Pipkins was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. The three were held without bond after their arrests.
According to Assistant District Attorney Tammy Meade, Tipton and Fuller had a disagreement on the night before the murder. The following day, Tipton allegedly contacted her brother Bowles, who then invited Fuller to a party. At the gathering, an altercation occurred between Tipton and Fuller, which escalated when Tipton reportedly placed Fuller in the trunk of her car and drove her to Wilson County. Once there, Tipton shot Fuller multiple times, leaving her body behind the property.
Following Tipton’s guilty plea, a judge immediately sentenced her to a life sentence for first-degree premeditated murder and another life sentence for felony first-degree murder. However, as both sentences were for the same victim, they were merged into a single life sentence.
District Attorney Lawson expressed his appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement involved in the investigation, commending the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Metro-Davidson County Police Department for their diligent work. He noted that the investigation into Fuller’s death ranks among the most thorough he had encountered in his career.
While Tipton’s plea brings some measure of justice, the remaining suspects, Ty’Shawne Bowles and La’Myra Pipkins, are still awaiting trial. Their next court hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2025.
As the case continues to unfold, the Fuller family and the community continue to grapple with the loss of a young life taken far too soon. The justice system’s handling of the case provides a sense of closure for some, but it remains clear that the painful journey for Mya Fuller’s family is far from over.
