: Her body was discovered on a highway near her home in Smithville with multiple gunshot wounds. A loaded and cocked handgun, which was registered to her, was found lying beside her.
: Students described her classes as "formative," particularly for their personal and academic growth in writing and social awareness. Circumstances of Death
This report focuses on the life, career, and tragic death of , an Associate Professor of Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Career and Academic Contributions ashleigh mckenzie
On the morning of December 4, 2025, McKinzie was found fatally shot in the middle of a roadway in DeKalb County, Tennessee.
Ashleigh McKinzie was a highly regarded educator and researcher who joined the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) community in 2017. : Her body was discovered on a highway
: Following her death, reports emerged that McKinzie had recently expressed fears for her safety. According to student accounts, she mentioned in class that she had filed for a restraining order just days before the shooting. Records later confirmed she had petitioned for two orders of protection .
: A 27-year-old man, Todd Stanton, was at the scene when police arrived, with his own weapon placed on the hood of his truck. He was reportedly cooperating with investigators, and as of December 8, 2025, no arrests had been made. Recent Investigations and Community Impact Circumstances of Death This report focuses on the
: She taught courses focused on gender studies, social justice, and sociological theory. In the fall 2025 semester, she was teaching a course titled "Violence in the Family".