Season 2 – Episode 1 – Sabrina Parker

I’ve known Sabrina Parker for several years. I knew her son before I knew her, though. Sabrina’s son, Tyler, was in my Language Arts class at Northeast Middle School during the 2017-2018 school year. Tyler was a quiet student with a distinct sense of humor. He was one of the calmest students I have ever taught in class. On May 20, 2022, I received a text from someone telling me that Sabrina’s son had been killed. Over the next few days, I learned that Tyler was shot and killed while driving on North Highland. A year and a half later, there are still no answers or suspects.

Sabrina’s story is one of immense pain, a story that every parent wants to avoid. Her story doesn’t end there, though.

Sabrina moved to Jackson in 2016 to start a non-profit that helped elderly people navigate the Medicaid for Oral Healthcare system. It’s a system that is complex and confusing for people who don’t have a guide. Sabrina finds herself in a similar situation now – navigating the gray waters of grief while also feeling her way through the maze of the investigative system of law enforcement as she searches for answers about her son’s death.

This episode doesn’t fall under the umbrella of True Crime or Unsolved Mysteries; this is the real story of a person living in Jackson, Tennessee. It’s a story of pain, incalculable grief, and the beginnings of hope. This is Sabrina’s story and Tyler’s story.