Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man found guilty in April for the 2020 murders of three women has been sentenced to life without parole plus 37 years.
In April 2023, 27 year-old Desmon Rhea was convicted of First and Second Degree Murder, as well as other charges, in the March 2020 deaths of Juliana White, 29; White’s mother, Mildred Blackwell, 55; and Blackwell’s roommate, Barbara Rogers, 57. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In a sentencing hearing Friday, October 6, Judge Scott Green ordered Rhea to serve an additional 37 years. A life sentence in Tennessee equals 51 years which means Rhea will be required to serve 88 years in prison.
According to law enforcement officials, the three women were slain on March 7, 2020.
Officials say KPD officers initially responded to the call that there was a body in the middle of the road on Division Street. The body, later identified as White, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations led KPD officers to a home in the 6600 block of Trousdale Road where they found the bodies of Blackwell and Rogers.
Rhea was then taken into custody on March 7.
