'A heavy burden': Detectives detail year-long effort that led to arrests in Mya Fuller case

As hours transformed into days and weeks, Wilson County detective Walker Woods felt the weight, the grind of Mya Fuller's unexplained death in the summer of 2022.

Woods continued to work.

Follow leads. Review information on file. Ask fresh questions.

Months passed.

“Being placed in a job like what we do day in and day out — it’s a heavy burden, but one we gratefully carry that we were able to help with families," Woods said Thursday, not long after police announced three arrests in Fuller's case.

"We’re able to walk through this with families (and) we’re able to help bring them closure and ultimately just find those that are responsible for doing this."

It's a Herculean effort that when successful, offers closure to families and friends, co-workers and neighbors, as well as justice to victims. It also protects the community, Woods added, letting everyone know there are repercussions for violent actions against residents.

In the end, it took more than 50 law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies — including 10 from the Wilson County Sheriff's Office's detective division — to lead to the arrests of Taiyana Tipton, 21, of Nashville, Ty'Shawne Bowles, 20, of Nashville, and La'Myra Pipkins, 20, of Nashville.

They were captured nearly one year after Fuller's disappearance. The Murfreesboro resident was 22 when she disappeared shortly after a Nashville SC soccer match in late July.

Detectives were tight-lipped about a potential motive, cause of death and other details with the case that is still considered an open investigation. The Office of the Medical Examiner has determined that the cause of death was from gunshot wounds.

Related: Mya Fuller's disappearance and death: What we know after 3 in Nashville face charges

Fuller’s parents, who attended a related press conference Thursday morning, declined to comment on the case. But they firmly stood with Woods and other Wilson County Sheriff's Office personnel through the journey to justice for Fuller.

Woods and Bryan said the case gained traction in January when search warrants on multiple individuals led to vital information.

“The motivating factor in a case like this always comes back to the victim and the victim’s family,” Woods said. His tone reflected a juxtaposition; the satisfaction with arrests, yet the loss of Chris and Tonya Fuller's daughter after more than 11 months of interaction.

“Every person is worthy of justice. Every person deserves someone’s best effort. So being placed in a job like what we do day in and day out — it’s a heavy burden, but one that we gratefully carry.”

Timeline: The disappearance of Mya Fuller

Investigators believe Fuller became acquainted with the suspects around 24 hours before she went missing. Woods said there wasn’t an ongoing relationship with the victim prior to that time.

Fuller was last seen by family on July 29, worked the next day at a Nashville SC soccer game at Geodis Park in Nashville and was at Island Vibes on Antioch Pike in Nashville later that night and into the early morning hours of July 31.

On Aug. 6, the remains of Fuller, a 2018 Blackman High graduate and former basketball player, were found in a rural area of southeast Wilson County.

“The criminal investigative division has worked tirelessly the past year trying to get some type of justice or answers for this family,” Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan said on Thursday. “Yesterday we accomplished that. What helped us accomplish that was the hard work of the detectives standing behind me.”

Police: Case supported by 'multiple surveillance video'

Bryan emphasized the three suspects in custody are the individuals who police believe “are responsible” for Fuller’s death. But the investigation “is continuing for Mya and her family until every detail has been uncovered,” he added.

Police do have “multiple surveillance video to support the case,” Woods said as the case moves to the court system.

Jason Lawson, District Attorney General of the 15th Judicial District, said all prosecuting options, including the death penalty, “will be considered.”

A private reward raised by family and friends of Fuller ballooned to more than $17,500, which was on top of a $5,000 reward offered by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office.

There was some public interaction in the case, but Woods described it as minimal.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville arrests in Mya Fuller case came after tireless police work