In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, December 4, 2025, the rural roads of Captain’s Point Road near Smithville Highway became ground zero for tragedy when deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office discovered 41-year-old Ashleigh E. McKinzie lying lifeless in the roadway, her body bearing apparent gunshot wounds. A loaded, cocked handgun lay nearby — a silent witness to the unknown events that led to her death.
An adult male, later identified as 27-year-old Todd C. Stanton, was present when deputies arrived. According to statements from the county’s District Attorney, Stanton is cooperating fully with investigators. No charges have been filed as of now — investigators say it is too soon, as they work to piece together exactly what happened.
From the moment deputies arrived around 4:51 a.m., the scene was grim and haunting: flashing lights, uniformed officers, a lifeless woman on a road that, just hours before, most residents had traversed without a second thought. Chief deputy law enforcement officials and agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) joined the on-site response — a joint effort to determine the circumstances of this fatal shooting.
Near neighbors say the stretch of Captain’s Point has long been quiet and familiar — the kind of place where waves are exchanged in passing and children play freely in front yards. The news of a woman found dead at daybreak shattered that sense of safety. In shock and sorrow, community members describe the scene as “unreal,” grappling with grief and the sudden absence of someone they may have thought they knew.
Investigators have made it clear: the case remains open, active, and fluid. They are meticulously cataloging physical evidence, canvassing for witnesses, reviewing statements, and reconstructing a timeline to sort out whether the shooting was accidental, self-inflicted, or reflective of something darker. Even small details — a sound someone heard, a car passing by that morning — could prove vital.
For McKinzie’s loved ones, friends, and neighbors, there is little closure yet. Instead, there is waiting — for answers, for justice, and for some sense of normalcy to return. As the investigation moves forward, local authorities are encouraging anyone with information to come forward, stressing that even the tiniest clue might shed light on what actually happened.
In the meantime, DeKalb County mourns. A life ended far too soon; a community left with questions. And as darkness gives way to daylight, the search for truth — and for peace — continues.
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