The mother of a 15-year-old boy, who fatally shot himself in her home on October 31, was arrested last night on 21 charges related to his suicide.
Tabitha Ward, 34, lost custody of her two sons (the 15-year-old and his 14-year-old brother) in May but refused to cooperate with the Department of Children's Services and told the boys to run from state custody. However, Ward signed Department of Children's Services documents agreeing she would not harbor the boys, who have been listed as runaways ever since.
The night of her son's suicide, six firearms were recovered from inside Ward's home on Cross Timbers Drive, including the one used by the 15-year-old. Ward has previous felony convictions and should not be in possession of any firearms.
Additionally, the investigation revealed Ward not only possessed multiple firearms, but the week prior to her son's suicide she taught the boys how to shoot the guns in the woods.
Ward's roommate told detectives that after Ward found her son in his room with a gunshot wound, Ward transferred a backpack with all six guns to the roommate's bedroom prior to the arrival of first responders.
The 15-year-old was transported to Vanderbilt Pediatrics where he died shortly after arriving.
Ward is charged with criminally negligent homicide as well as multiple counts of evidence tampering, felony weapon possession, aggravated child endangerment, custodial interference, harboring runaways, and contributing to the delinquency of minors. She remains jailed on $116,000 bond.
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Tabitha Ward, 34