MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Court TV) — A woman is standing trial on charges of murder and attempted murder after allegedly attacking a pastor and his wife.
Latoshia Daniels appears in court during her murder trial Nov. 4, 2025. (Court TV)
Latoshia Daniels is charged with the first-degree murder of Brodes Perry and the attempted murder of Perry’s wife, Tabatha Perry, at their Collierville apartment on April 4, 2019.
Police say Daniels, an acquaintance of the couple dating back to when they lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, arrived at their home and spoke with the Perrys for approximately 40 minutes. When Tabatha went to escort Daniels out of the apartment, Daniels allegedly pulled a gun from her jacket and shot Brodes multiple times. Tabatha told the police that while shooting, Daniels repeated, “You broke my heart.” Brodes was shot multiple times in the head and torso and died at the hospital.
When Tabatha knelt down to check on her husband, Daniels allegedly told her to “get out of the way” before shooting her in the shoulder and reloading her gun.
Police determined the gun used was a Ruger 9mm, and it was loaded with five rounds when officers seized it.
At the time of his death, Brodes was the executive pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, WMC reported.
TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 3 – 11/6/25
- LIVESTREAM: TN v. Latoshia Daniels, Day 3 | ‘Broke My Heart’ Murder Trial
- Special Agent Brock Sain — Tennessee Bureau of Investigation firearms examiner
- Examined the 9mm Ruger pistol, magazine and cartridges along with seven casings from the crime scene and six bullets from the medical examiner.
- A comparative examination of the firearm and evidence led him to conclude that all six bullets and casings were fired from the Ruger pistol.
- Confirmed that the 9mm is a standard firearm used by law enforcement.
- The prosecution rested its case.
- The defense filed a motion for judgment of acquittal.
- The judge denied the motion, finding sufficient evidence to proceed to trial on all counts.
- Officer Ryan Dunlap — Collierville Police Department
- Responded to the shots fired call and found three people at the apartment: two on the ground and the defendant standing with a gun.
- Daniels was non-responsive to verbal commands and he observed that she put the gun to her own head.
- Daniels was speaking softly to herself, not communicating with the officers.
- The defendant did not point the gun at the victims or officers.
- Amanda Bitting — Forensic psychiatry expert
- Conducted a forensic evaluation of the defendant; she clarified that she was not there to testify about any argument that Daniels was not guilty by reason of insanity.
- Unable to determine diminished capacity because the defendant couldn’t remember the event.
- Found that Daniels had childhood trauma, including physical and emotional abuse; her stepfather was a pastor and she witnessed domestic violence in his relationship with her mother.
- Daniels attempted suicide after her first divorce. Her second marriage was unfulfilling, leaving her feeling neglected.
- Diagnosed Daniels with a major depressive disorder, meaning she was having depressive symptoms that were “severe enough to impair her functioning.”
- Did not find evidence that Daniels was unable to understand the wrongfulness of her act.
DAY 2 – 11/5/25
- LIVESTREAM: TN v. Latoshia Daniels, Day 2 | ‘Broke My Heart’ Murder Trial
- Capt. Samuel Draper — Collierville Police Department
- Responded to the shots fired call at the Perrys’ apartment, found a male victim on the ground in the entryway and a female victim sitting against a wall.
- Observed Daniels standing in the apartment near the kitchen island with a weapon.
- Daniels would not respond to commands to drop the weapon and was visibly upset.
- Officer Jenkins deployed a less-lethal weapon (12-gauge shotgun with pellets); Daniels immediately fell to the ground after being hit.
- Daniels pointed the gun at herself but did not threaten officers or victims on the ground.
- Officer Richard McClain — Former Collierville Police Officer
- Responded to the scene and called for the use of a less-lethal weapon when Daniels wouldn’t drop the gun.
- The less-lethal weapon misfired the first time, but was fired successfully the second time.
- Secured the murder weapon; the gun had several rounds in the magazine, but none were chambered.
- Lt. Chris Roberts — Collierville Police Department
- The lead investigator arrived at the scene around 11-11:30 pm. Seven shell casings and five bullets were recovered from the victim’s body.
- The murder weapon was a Ruger handgun purchased by Daniels on April 4, 2019, at Thompson Sporting Goods in Sherwood, Arkansas — a three-hour drive from the murder scene.
- Surveillance video showed Daniels purchasing a weapon the same day as the shooting.
- Ballistics testing confirmed the bullets and casings matched the recovered weapon.
- Found an additional weapon in Perry’s locker at the Little Rock cigar bar.
- Tabatha told officers that Daniels was trying to shoot her husband, not her.
- Daniels made the statement, “He broke my heart,” during/after the shooting.
- Det. Jonathan Watts — Collierville Police Department
- Crime scene photographer who documented the apartment complex, the crime scene and the suspect’s vehicle.
- Raymond Paladino — General manager of the sporting goods store where Daniels purchased the gun
- Took three hours to drive from his store to the courthouse in downtown Memphis.
- Described the process of purchasing a firearm: present photo ID, fill out a federal form, and undergo a background check
- Daniels did all these things and purchased the firearm: a 9mm Ruger, one of the store’s more affordable firearms.
- On cross, conceded that Daniels purchased the gun legally and did not try to conceal her identity.
- Dr. Erica Curry — Forensic pathologist; former deputy medical examiner at Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office
- Described extensive injuries: head gunshot that fractured bone and injured brain, three abdominal gunshots affecting stomach/intestines/liver, plus wounds to buttock, arm and wrist
- Testified that head and abdominal wounds were fatal, while buttock wound would not have been fatal on its own
- Cause of death: multiple gunshot wounds; manner of death: homicide
- Testified this indicates gun was fired from at least three feet away from Perry
- Defense questioned whether downward bullet trajectory could be consistent with victim falling
- Dr. Curry acknowledged trajectory could be affected by body position but would need to know gun position relative to body
- Testified she cannot determine victim’s exact position when shot based on trajectory alone
DAY 1 – 11/4/25
- LIVESTREAM: TN v. Latoshia Daniels, Day 1 | ‘Broke My Heart’ Murder Trial
- Prosecutors delivered their opening statement.
- WATCH: ‘Broke My Heart’ Murder Trial: Opening Statements
- Brodes Perry was a 36-year-old pastor, husband and church member who was shot and killed.
- Brodes knew the defendant through the church: he was a pastor at Little Rock Church in the fall of 2016.
- Defendant was a member and life group leader going through a divorce.
- The defendant and Brodes began a sexual relationship around February 2017, which continued until the end of 2018/early 2019.
- In October 2018, Brodes moved to Collierville for a new job. That move strained the relationship and Brodes decided he didn’t want to continue it.
- Defendant left Little Rock, stopped at a store in Arkansas to buy a 9mm gun and ammunition and drove 2.5 to 3 hours to Collierville.
- Tabatha Perry considered the defendant her friend and let her into her home.
- Brodes was shot multiple times; the medical examiner found five bullets in his body. Tabatha was also shot as she knelt beside her husband, trying to help him.
- The defense delivered its opening statement.
- Latoshia Daniels grew up surrounded by men who hurt women; her father, a respected minister, abused her mother behind closed doors.
- Got pregnant in high school at 17, father mandated she marry a man who later cheated.
- She attempted suicide after catching her husband cheating.
- Her second marriage was emotionally abusive; she would sit in the car crying before going home.
- Daniels sought spiritual guidance from Brodes. During their first counseling session, she poured her heart out about the lack of love in her relationships; in the second session, Brodes kissed her and they had sex.
- The relationship began with strict rules set by Brodes: she was required to use the Confide app for all communication, she had to travel with him but pay her own way, she was required to be naked in hotel rooms and had to address him with “yes, sir” or “no, sir.”
- Brodes told her Tabatha had approved of this arrangement and said they’d be “sister wives,” but Tabatha didn’t know about the relationship for two years.
- Daniels purchased the gun to end her life after Brodes ended their relationship. She saw the Memphis exit and decided to see him one more time.
- She didn’t mean to shoot Tabatha; this was not a premeditated killing, but rather an emotional reaction in the moment.
- Tabatha Archie – Surviving victim and ex-wife of victim Brodes Perry
- MORE: Pastor’s death revealed secret affair, widow testifies
- Archie was married to victim Brodes Perry, a pastor at Saint Martin Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, who specialized in assimilation and small groups.
- The couple had recently moved to Collierville, Tennessee, approximately six months before the April 4, 2019 shooting.
- Defendant Latasha Daniels arrived unexpectedly at their apartment around 9-10 PM, claiming to be in town for a conference.
- Archie described her relationship with Daniels as “friendly,” knowing her from church activities, tennis, and dance classes in Little Rock.
- When Perry arrived home about 10 minutes after Daniels, he appeared “agitated” and said “This isn’t a surprise. This is an unexpected guest.”
- Perry began “grilling” Daniels about why she was there during their brief conversation.
- As the group walked to the door to see Daniels out, Archie led the way while Daniels and Perry followed behind.
- Archie testified that when she turned around at the apartment stairs, she saw Daniels “pull out a gun and start shooting” at Perry
- Perry “hit the ground” after being shot, and Archie attempted to shield him with her body, resulting in her being shot in the shoulder.
- Archie testified that Daniels told her to “back off” and “move,” and when she refused to stop protecting Perry, Daniels shot her
- The bullet remained in Archie’s body for months before being surgically removed in Jacksonville, and she continues to experience pain
- Archie denied any knowledge of an extramarital affair between Perry and Daniels prior to his death.
- She testified that Perry never discussed wanting relationships with other women or having an “open marriage.”
- Defense attorney Lauren Fuchs introduced evidence that Perry had recommended a book called “The Ethical Slut” about open marriages to Archie.
- On cross, Archie acknowledged Perry was part of an “ethical non-monogamy” book club and communicated with women via the Marco Polo app
- Multiple video clips were played showing Perry telling Daniels that Archie had agreed to an open marriage with specific “rules.”
- In the videos, Perry claimed Archie was “perfectly fine” with him having a relationship with Daniels and had made an “exception” to their supposed rules for Daniels.
- Archie repeatedly denied these claims, stating she never agreed to any open marriage arrangement or rules.
- She testified that Perry never told her about his alleged two-year relationship with Daniels or that they would be “sister wives.”
- Archie confirmed that during the shooting, Daniels said “you broke my heart” and after shooting Archie, said “I didn’t mean to.”
- She testified that after the shooting, Daniels pointed the gun at herself in various positions and said “what have I done.”
- Archie confirmed she gave a statement to police the morning after the shooting with two pastors present.
- WATCH: ‘Broke My Heart’ Murder Trial: Pastor’s Wife Denies Open Relationship
