Investigators said the children, ages 1 and 11, were found shot to death inside a Kenton home.
KENTON, Tenn. — A Tennessee woman has been indicted on murder and child abuse charges after investigators said her two daughters were found shot to death June 13 inside a home in Obion County.
Jessica Quarles, 32, was booked Monday into the Obion County Jail without bond after a grand jury returned charges tied to the deaths of 1-year-old Landrie Harris and 11-year-old McKenna Young. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the case began as a double homicide investigation involving state agents, Kenton police, the Obion County Sheriff’s Office and the 27th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.
The deaths were reported at a residence in the 300 block of Jan Lynn Street in Kenton, a small northwest Tennessee community near the Kentucky line. Investigators said the children died from apparent gunshot wounds. Quarles, their mother, was also found inside the home with stab wounds and was taken to a Memphis hospital in critical condition. Authorities did not release a full timeline of the shooting or say when they believe the children were killed. The TBI said agents joined the investigation at the request of District Attorney General Colin Johnson. Kenton Mayor Danny Jowers called the scene “horrific” in an earlier public statement and said first responders would not forget what they saw.
The indictment returned June 29 charges Quarles with two counts each of first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree felony murder. She also faces one count of aggravated child abuse, neglect or endangerment involving a vulnerable child and one count of aggravated child abuse, neglect or endangerment involving a child age 8 or younger. The TBI said investigators identified Quarles as the person responsible for the children’s deaths during the course of the investigation. The agency also said the charges are accusations, not evidence, and that Quarles is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case drew attention before charges were announced because Quarles was first reported as critically injured at the scene where the children were found dead. A vigil was held June 21 at Parsons Regional Community Park, where community members gathered with candles to remember Landrie and McKenna and to support relatives. At that time, many public details remained limited as investigators continued reviewing the case. Local officials asked the public to avoid speculation while the TBI worked with Kenton police and county authorities. The children’s ages and the small-town setting added to the shock felt across the area.
Authorities have not said whether Quarles has entered a plea or whether she has an attorney listed in court records. The indictment moves the case into the next stage of criminal proceedings in Obion County, where prosecutors will decide how to pursue the charges and a judge will set future hearings. First-degree murder is among the most serious charges under Tennessee law. Investigators have not publicly released a motive, a detailed account of the weapon used or the full sequence of events inside the home. Those facts may emerge through court filings, hearings or further statements from law enforcement.
Friends and community members described the deaths as devastating for the family. A friend of the children’s father told Law and Crime that he was left numb after finding the scene and said the image would stay with him. Public comments from local officials focused on the children, the responders and the continuing investigation. The Kenton Fire Department said in an earlier statement that everyone who responded would remember the day. Officials have not identified all people who were inside or near the home before police arrived, and no additional arrests had been announced as of Tuesday.
Quarles remained jailed without bond after her Monday arrest. The next major step is expected in Obion County court, where the indictment will begin moving through the criminal process.
Author note: Last updated June 30, 2026.