[SmithL]

Well, that was unexpected.

[aynrandfreak]

Let this be a lesson to those women who try to meet prisoners for relationships.

[ozarkgirl]

Well, that was unexpected.

I see your point there but it was also the mom's fault. She should know if someone is in jail for beating their girlfriend to death with a skillet, probably not a real class act. What a shame for the kids.

[Born and Razed in America]

Yes, women who have relationships with criminals are dumb and weak. I have little sympathy for them, but that doesn't mean they get blamed for the harms others inflict upon them. The children are another story altogether.

This man has killed enough innocents. We should show him mercy with a quick death. He has confessed -- there is no need for delay.

[jocon307]

Beats a woman to death, gets a mere 15 years, serves 1/3 of that, gets out and kills his entire family.

Can we execute him now? 4 dead bodies later, two children who didn't chose a realtionship with this scum in any way, can we execute him now?

[layman]

Pope is on parole for fatally beating his girlfriend with a skillet during an argument at their home in 1995, police said. He had been released after serving five years of a 15-year sentence for second-degree murder.

We are told we should respect the law when the penalty for murder is five years in prison. I am disgusted with the criminal justice system.

[MikeJ]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but second-degree murder means premeditated, intentional, straight-up murder, right?

How did he get released after five years? I mean, that can't be the usual way these things are handled in Tennessee, is it?

[sandbar]

I wish this was unusual, but it's not. I have been trying to get my best friend to see the light with the guy who's already tried to kill her once or twice, and he was in prison for beating a man to death. She has 14 year old daughter from a previous marriage too. She is soooo certain he wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her or her daughter. He's chaaaannnngggeedd.

[BlkConserv]

Pope is on parole for fatally beating his girlfriend with a skillet during an argument at their home in 1995, police said. He had been released after serving five years of a 15-year sentence for second-degree murder.

Leftist judge who gave him this slap on the wrist ought to have his ass handed to him.

[SmithL]

Man Kills Wife And Two Children
John Pless
May 3,2005

36 year old Tony Pope is being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond on charges he murdered his wife Andrea, her 13 year old daughter Brianna Justice and the couple's six-week old son Christian Pope.

According to police and court records, Pope confessed to the killings. Chattanooga Police investigator James Tate said in an affidavit that Pope told him his wife wanted a divorce, but "did not wish for the marriage to end in divorce and stated that he was married until death do us part."

Police say Mrs. Pope wanted to leave the couple's Helena Drive home Monday night with her children and planned to stay with a relative. Those relatives became concerned when she did not arrive.

Records show a relative called Pope asking where his wife was and he at first said she left with a friend. During a call later Monday evening, Pope said his wife was in the laundry room.

Police say relatives then called police to the Pope's home to check on her well being. Officers found the body of Andrea Pope in the laundry room. Upon further investigation officers found the bodies of Pope's daughter Brianna and the couple's newborn son Christian.

According to Pope's statement to police, he cut the telephone lines going into his house and covered an outside light's motion sensor with a towel.

Pope's statement shows he killed his wife with several blows to her head with a hammer. It goes on to say he strangled Brianna, and after she fell on the floor he kicked her in the chest. Pope said he then went to Christian's crib, pulled him out and strangled him. Pope said he put the infant's body back in the crib and struck him in the chest with his hand.

Chattanooga Police fugitive detectives spent the night looking for Pope. By Tuesday morning they got a break. Records show Pope spoke with his boss at East Chattanooga Lumber company about 7:30 Tuesday morning, and talked about fleeing to Florida. Pope was talked out of leaving and remained at the business, records show.

Hamilton County Court records show Tony Pope pleaded guilty in 1995 to killing his then-girlfriend Susan Yarbrough by beating her over the head with a frying pan. Pope served six years in prison and was released. Records also show Pope was found guilty in 1993 of simple assault against another woman and got a suspended sentence.

Pope is being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond on three counts of first degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court May 11.

[SmithL]

Pope's Prior Murder Charge
Melissa Riopka
News 12
May 3, 2005 8:44 PM EDT

     When East Ridge Police Captain Tim Mullinax heard Tony Pope was in jail for murder, he was pretty sure he knew who Tony Pope was.  Mullinax said, "we don't have that many homicides, they kind of stick in your mind."

     On a snowy day in February 1995, East Ridge police arrested Pope for killing Susan Yarborough. Back then, Captain Mullinax was a detective and was on-call when the 25-year old man reported the murder.  Mullinax said Pope, "called 911 and said he had just killed his girlfriend and needed to be picked up."

     Pope, who made the call from the parking lot of the East Ridge K-Mart, told police they'd find the 39-year old woman at 1512 McDonald Road, inside the home the couple shared.  Mullinax said, "Apparently, they got into an argument, he never said what the argument was about, and he took an 18 inch cast iron skillet and beat her to death with it."

     Mullinax, who was one of the first officers on the scene, said Pope beat Susan Yarborough so hard, the skillet shattered into 19 pieces and, "along with that, he shattered her skull and her throat and her chest."

     A jury found Pope guilty.  A judge sentenced him to 15 years, but he served only a third of the time. That's frustrating for the man who helped send him to prison.  Mullinax said, "some people are rehabilitated in prison, but a large majority aren't, and we have to deal with the outcome of that."