Tina Stewart, a 21-year-old junior guard on the Middle Tennessee State University women’s basketball team, was fatally stabbed on March 2, 2011, in the off-campus apartment she shared with freshman Shanterrica Madden. Madden, 18 at the time, was charged with first-degree murder, convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in May 2012, and sentenced to 29 years in prison.1ESPN. Jury Convicts Defendant in Case of Middle Tennessee State Player Tina Stewart Murder2WREG. Shanterrica Madden Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison MTSU later created a campus nonviolence fund in Stewart’s name.
The Night of the Stabbing
Murfreesboro police responded to a disturbance call at an off-campus apartment near MTSU and found Stewart with a stab wound to the chest.3CBS News. MTSU Guard Stabbed to Death She was taken to a Murfreesboro hospital and pronounced dead. An autopsy found the wound had punctured her lung and struck a major artery to her heart.1ESPN. Jury Convicts Defendant in Case of Middle Tennessee State Player Tina Stewart Murder
Madden and Stewart were both from Memphis but had not known each other before being assigned the same apartment. Madden was not on the basketball team. According to prosecutors, the conflict began after Stewart reported Madden for smoking marijuana in the apartment, and the argument turned physical.4CBS News. Shanterrica Madden Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Slaying of Middle Tenn Basketball Player Tina Stewart Defense attorney Joe Brandon said Stewart had Madden “down on the ground beating on her” and that the knife belonged to Stewart.5San Diego Union-Tribune. Attorney: Woman Stabbed Roommate in Self-Defense Brandon said Madden had an abrasion above her left eye and swelling to both eyes. Madden never called 911. Stewart was found by her boyfriend, who called for help.6Action News 5. Murdered MTSU Basketball Player May Have Tweeted Before Death
Trial, Verdict, and Sentence
Madden was tried in Rutherford County Circuit Court in Murfreesboro before Judge Don R. Ash. Assistant District Attorney Paul Newman argued the killing was premeditated and sought a first-degree murder conviction, pointing to evidence that Madden did not try to help Stewart, tried to hide the knife, and sent misleading text messages from Stewart’s phone to conceal her involvement. “She is not credible,” Newman told the jury.1ESPN. Jury Convicts Defendant in Case of Middle Tennessee State Player Tina Stewart Murder
Madden, 19 by the time she testified, said the argument in Stewart’s bedroom became physical when Stewart began hitting her, and that she grabbed a knife from Stewart’s bed to defend herself against her “larger and more athletic” roommate.4CBS News. Shanterrica Madden Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Slaying of Middle Tenn Basketball Player Tina Stewart
On May 14, 2012, after roughly two hours of deliberation, the jury rejected the first-degree charge and convicted Madden of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The murder count alone carried a range of 15 to 60 years. She received an effective sentence of 29 years.2WREG. Shanterrica Madden Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison
Appeals and Current Status
Madden’s direct appeal challenged the trial court’s refusal to recuse Judge Ash, arguing he had ties to MTSU and 205 Facebook connections to university supporters. She also challenged the court’s practice of allowing jurors to submit questions during testimony, and argued her sentence was excessive.7Tennessee Courts. State of Tennessee v. Shanterrica Madden The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed on March 11, 2014, with one judge dissenting. The Tennessee Supreme Court declined review.8Daily News Journal. Tenn. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Madden Appeal Brandon filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on December 15, 2014, raising constitutional concerns about juror questions and judicial use of social media; it was denied on March 2, 2015.9Supreme Court of the United States. Madden v. Tennessee, No. 14-880
Madden also sought post-conviction relief, raising ineffective assistance of counsel, insufficient evidence, and due process claims. On March 30, 2016, the post-conviction court acknowledged a “plausible claim” but dismissed the petition as filed outside the one-year statute of limitations. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed on July 6, 2017.10Tennessee Courts. Shanterrica Madden v. State of Tennessee As of 2017, Madden was incarcerated at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary, with parole eligibility in 2036.11MTSU Sidelines. Appeal Denied for Lady Raider Killer Shanterrica Madden
Who Tina Stewart Was
Clantina Marie Lapae Stewart was born on October 17, 1989, in Memphis, the daughter of Ida and Adrian Jackson, with three siblings: Adrian, Monika, and Miesha. She attended Memphis Central High School under coach Niki Bray and averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, two steals, and 1.8 assists per game as a senior. The Memphis Commercial Appeal named her “Best of Preps” in both her junior and senior seasons.12Go Blue Raiders. Tina Stewart – Women’s Basketball
At MTSU she studied exercise science and played guard for the Lady Raiders for three seasons. Her role grew each year. In her junior season of 2010–11, she started 14 of 28 games and averaged 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, ranking third in the Sun Belt Conference in steal percentage.13Sports Reference. Tina Stewart Stats Across 81 career games, she totaled 241 points, 107 rebounds, and 70 steals. In the team media guide, she had said her family influenced her most.14MTSU News. In Memoriam: Tina Stewart
Campus Response and Lasting Legacy
More than 150 mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of the Keathley University Center, with a second vigil at Murphy Center.15MTSU Sidelines. Campus Mourns Tina Stewart, Fatally Stabbed Wednesday Night University president Sidney McPhee expressed “deepest sorrow,” called Stewart “a wonderful, talented and vibrant young woman,” and said he and his wife had personally known her and hosted her for Thanksgiving dinner. Head coach Rick Insell called it “a coach’s nightmare.” Counselors were made available to students the next morning.16Go Blue Raiders. MTSU Statement on Tina Stewart
The Lady Raiders, 23-6 and top seed in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament’s East Division, voted unanimously to continue their season and travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Insell and athletic director Chris Massaro said the decision was “solely the players’ choice.”17Jacksonville.com. Middle Tennessee State Women’s Basketball Player Killed Stewart’s funeral was held on March 12, 2011, at Soul Winners Baptist Church in the Hickory Hill neighborhood of Memphis, with hundreds in attendance, many wearing purple, her favorite color. Pastor David Rhodes told mourners that Stewart’s father had already forgiven the person accused of killing his daughter.18Action News 5. Friends, Family, Teammates Remember MTSU Basketball Star
In November 2017, the MTSU Student Government Association created the Tina Stewart Campus Nonviolence Fund.19MTSU Campus Nonviolence. Program Funding Opportunities The SGA is required to budget at least $5,000 a year for it.20MTSU SGA. SGA By-Laws The fund supports student organizations and university departments running programs on student violence prevention, consent and safe dating education, and campus resources for victims and bystanders. In 2023–24, the MTSU Campus Nonviolence Committee awarded $500 to student social work programming and $2,500 to the Department of Human Sciences, and coordinated an annual International Day of Nonviolence event featuring a silent march and musical performances.21MTSU Campus Nonviolence. Annual Report 2023-2024