Family On Both Sides Of Murder Speak

Murder Grand Bay A Grand Bay family is mourning its loss while the suspect’s brother comes to his defense.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, June 12, 2009 - 4:02 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, June 12, 2009 - 4:04 pm CST

Friends and family of 41-year-old Karen Tillman were too broken up to talk to cameras -- but they did share a picture of her with us. They said the loving mother of four boys was coming home from her job at the Chevron Plant in Pascagoula Thursday night when she was murdered. Family members say Tillman was a wonderful person who was involved in local beauty pageants as a young woman. As an adult, she focused all her energy on raising her boys and going to their sporting events. Karen's boys call her the best mother in the world. 19-year-old Spanley Harris is charged with capital murder in the case. He was denied bond Friday. His older brother Travis defended Spanley saying he's not a bad person.

“He can be a sweet person sometimes but I can't believe he did it, I can't believe he did it,” says Travis Harris. Spanley Harris was awaiting sentencing as a youthful offender in another case--he was originally charged with rape and assault. His brother says Spanley wasn't the same after his first run in with the law.

“He have a temper, a bad temper, his mood swings, it just switched, he'd be cool today and he'd just and the next five minutes he just acting the fool, cussing people out and stuff,” says Travis. The Sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation. Officials declined to comment on whether or not the victim knew Spanley. The Tillman family says they did not know each other.

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linda1990 Says:

Mon, Jul 06, 2009 at 3:18 am

These people have nothing to do but stand in front of a check cashing place and wait for someone to rob to come by. Get them off the street. Where are the police.

mississinghome Says:

Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 10:01 pm

Well sources say she had just gotten off work, had cashed her check. Who knows but could have been that he was hanging out outside the check cashing place, saw her with a bundle of money, and held her up at gunpoint. From there it went south. I can’t think he intended to shoot her while she was driving. There had to be some sort of struggle for him to fire on the driver. Bottom line, it is tragic for the families on both sides but as she is my cousin I tend to see things a little clearer than you observers. Let somebody kill your wife, sister or cousin by shooting her in the neck while driving her car and then??????????????? Maybe you can find some sort of compassion for the dead. However my previous offer still stands.

getreal Says:

Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 4:04 pm

he wasn’t hitchhiking…from what i’ve heard they knew each other. this was a mother that partied with her sons, not just took care of them.

mob1 Says:

Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 3:53 pm

As Bamabob stated, this does make me wonder why he was in the car if they didn’t know each other. Maybe she was being nice and gave him a ride while he was hicking down the road, who knows.

getreal Says:

Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 3:19 pm

harris is a well known drug dealer… i cant believe that isnt on his record

framkly Says:

Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 10:29 am

I post alot, moostly murders. I know how to stop them. We need to change back to public execution.

rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Was this one of the rash of carjackings that are taking place? My prayers to the family of Ms.Tillman, her photo certainly proves she was a beautiful lady.

gbay251 Says:

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 8:53 pm

All there is to hope for is that justice will properly be served! She was a GREAT woman.. she raised 4 great sons all like brothers to me! He deserves the death penalty an no less! I hope the guys in jail welcome him the right way for raping one woman an murdering another! Hope his time is torture an he prays for the death penalty every waking moment he’s in there!

Sirk Says:

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 8:23 pm

“Spanley Harris was awaiting sentencing as a youthful offender in another case—he was originally charged with rape and assault.”

This was not his first run-in with the law. Something should be done so that this is his last. Some people will never learn.

mississinghome Says:

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 8:08 pm

You know I can’t think of a single person who could say to me that she deserved to be shot in the neck and bleed to death. Anyone else out there who seems to think otherwise should see a therapist at minimum. If not I have a few ideas myself.

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