06-06-2025
Grandson confesses to killing woman with hammer: Police
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis man accused of killing his grandmother by hitting her in the back of the head with a hammer four times and then stealing her car was found in Jackson, Tennessee.
Kerrien Davis, 23, was extradited to Memphis and placed in jail on a first-degree murder and theft of property $10,000-$60,000 charge Thursday.
It all started on June 4 when officers responded to an ambulance call at a home in the 1800 block of South Perkins Road.
A woman reported to Memphis Police that she found her mother lying inside her home, bleeding from her head, with a hammer next to her. Her mother had on a backpack along with her lunch bag as if she had just come into the house from work, police say.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police identified her as 58-year-old Sonya Dates.
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The woman told officers that her son, Kerrien Dates, lived in the home with Sonya and that they had recently had altercations. She says Sonya had to kick Kerrien out of her house due to safety reasons.
Police say Sonya's 2020 Chevrolet Camaro was also missing from the scene.
At that time, a be on the lookout [BOLO] was issued.
During the investigation, the Jackson Police Department notified Memphis Police that they had just pulled over a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro in Jackson, Tennessee.
JPD identified the driver as Kerrion Davis. They say when they asked Kerrien why he was being pulled over, he said 'I hit Sonya in the head with a hammer and I think I killed her.'
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Kerrien was then taken into custody by JPD and later extradicted to Memphis where he was booked into jail. He is due in court on Monday morning.
Officers say they blue Camaro also showed to be registrered to Sonya Dates.
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