Tava Woodard’s life was tragically cut short after she sent a hilarious TikTok video to her mother and left to work a shift as a gas station cashier. Little did she know that in less than an hour her life would be taken. The incident took place at Roadrunner Market in Johnson City, Tennessee, where two individuals broke into the store. Despite complying with their demands and giving them money from the register, Tava was fatally attacked.
Last Thursday, Tava Woodard emailed her mom a funny TikTok video before her boyfriend picked her up from her midnight shift as a gas station clerk.
Less than an hour later, the 23-year-old was killed.
They say two people broke into the Roadrunner Market in Johnson City, Tennessee. Woodard handed them the money from the register and complied with all their demands, yet she was killed.
As the neighborhood came together to join the search, strangers organized and called the police with information. On Tuesday, a father and son were arrested and charged with murder in connection with her death.
On June 2, Woodard’s shift got off to a rocky start. Melissa Jones, her mother, who is 45, says she talked to friends and co-workers about the petty theft and expressed her desire to get a new job.
Jones adds that a customer entered the store yelling and screaming and stole some chips.
According to her mother, she sent a message that she no longer felt safe there. He says that based on what he hears, none of them felt very safe. According to all her employees, the “panic button” behind the counter was not only disconnected but also non-functional.
Soon after, two guys who were completely covered from head to toe walked into the store. Official reports claim that the men eventually killed her.
According to the mother, she was unable to contact anyone for help. What steps will he take? Pull out her phone and dial a number. Additionally, there is no “panic button” attached.
What should she do on her own? She was quite calm and collected, and officers said they were shocked to find out how old she was and how well she kept her composure. However, her mother will not go into details.
Tava The week before, Kristine Woodard had turned 23. For her birthday, she had a white cake with chocolate frosting and pretzel pizza at her mother’s house in Dandridge, Tennessee.
Woodard read a lot. She always carried a book with her, according to her mother, who also mentioned that her daughter loved Harry Potter and wanted to be a writer.
For her 17th birthday, she and her mother got matching semicolons inked as a promise to always be there for each other. In honor of her love for Harry Potter, Woodard also got a tattoo of the “Deathly Hallows” symbol.
Woodard had a great affinity for animals and often stopped by to rescue stray animals and take them to the shelter.
After she died, her family received support from her Appalachian Mountain community.
Her mother continues by saying that she was unaware of the extent of her influence on other people. Her child has been described as sweet and a shining example to her by countless callers and texts from individuals who care about her. Everyone felt better when they were around her because she always had a smile on her face. Knowing that other people have noticed this in her is overwhelming.
Woodard was a campaigner for human rights on social media. According to her mother, she never held her tongue or hid her emotions. She would have shouted it from the mountaintops if she felt it and believed it.
She was also an advocate for Jace Woodard, her 20-year-old younger brother, who has Asperger’s syndrome.
Tava was his staunchest ally both in class and on the bus. Her mother says she was always there for him.
She was also quite close with her 15-year-old sister, Addie Blazer.
They basically lay on top of each other, cuddling, cuddling, and holding hands the whole time, she recalls. They were just so in love with each other.
A spokesman for the Johnson City Police Department declined to comment Tuesday because of the ongoing investigation.
According to Johnson City Police Chief Billy Church, who has been in law enforcement for over 30 years, this is one of the worst cases he has ever encountered.
Mark Anthony S*xton, Jr., 41, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and operating an unregistered vehicle, according to a Washington County Sheriff’s report.
His 18-year-old son, Mark Anthony S*xton III, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, possible use of a handgun in a dangerous felony, and tampering with evidence.
It was not clear whether each defendant had pleaded guilty or hired an attorney.
There is a GoFundMe campaign to help Woodard’s family.
In a recent email to her sister, Woodard included a meme with the message: “If I die, don’t you dare pop a bunch of balloons. So I can keep growing, I want you to plant some flowers. The family is now asking people to plant flowers “so we can keep her alive and to have her with me’ as her mother said.
June 10 will be Woodard’s funeral.
People around the world listened to Woodard’s story and showed support for her mother. A memorial was placed at the facility and rewards were offered for information leading to an arrest.
Her mother continues, “It’s humbling and rewarding to receive the love, support, and prayers they’ve received from so many people. Even if it’s just a message, she wants to meet and hug each individual who has shown kindness.” to her and her family. Anyone concerned about her daughter was welcome.
The global response to Tava’s story is a testament to the impact she had on the lives of those around her and the collective determination to stand up against senseless acts of violence.
As Tava’s mother reflects on the extraordinary person her daughter was, she finds comfort in knowing that the world recognized Tava’s light and the incredible warmth she brought to every interaction. In the face of this tragedy, Tava Woodard’s legacy shines brightly, reminding us all to cherish our loved ones, speak our truths, and stand up for what is right.