Starlena Sullivan, a 31-year-old mother of three who had survived brain surgery and endured domestic abuse, was found fatally shot in a creek in North Nashville. A person walking a dog discovered her body on December 22, 2022; medical examination determined she had been killed on December 21. At the time of her death she wore a purple domestic violence awareness month bracelet.

The Metro Nashville Police Department focused its investigation on Starlena’s 49-year-old boyfriend, Andra Christman. Authorities were initially unable to locate him. In February 2023 a tip from a Joliet, Illinois, resident led to his arrest there on a probation violation tied to a prior felony gun conviction, and a murder warrant charging him with Sullivan’s killing was later obtained.

Nashville Homicide detectives traveled to Illinois to interview Christman; he declined to speak about Sullivan’s death. Information from another person in Illinois contributed to the case against him. Christman is being held without bond in Illinois pending extradition to Nashville to face the murder charge.

If anyone knew Starlena, her movements in December 2022, or has information about what happened in North Nashville, please come forward.