Pastor’s Widow Testifies About Husband’s Secret Affair and Deadly Shooting in Memphis Trial
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — A Memphis courtroom heard emotional and shocking testimony this week as Tabatha Archie, the widow of slain pastor Brodes Perry, took the stand in the murder trial of Latoshia Daniels, the woman accused of killing Perry and shooting Archie during a 2019 confrontation that exposed a secret affair.
Daniels, 44, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the April 4, 2019 shooting at the Perrys’ apartment in Collierville, Tennessee.
Widow Recalls Night of the Shooting
On Tuesday, Archie recounted the night her husband was killed, describing how Daniels — whom she knew from church in Little Rock, Arkansas — appeared unexpectedly at her apartment around 9 p.m.
Archie said she recognized Daniels from church activities, tennis games, and dance classes, and although surprised by the visit, she let her inside after Daniels claimed to be in town for a conference.
Moments later, Perry returned home and appeared agitated to find Daniels there. After a brief and tense exchange, Daniels said she would leave. As the group walked toward the door, Archie said she turned around to find Daniels pulling a gun from her bag.
“I see her pull out a gun and start shooting,” Archie testified tearfully.
Perry collapsed immediately, mortally wounded. When Archie tried to protect her husband, Daniels ordered her to move and shot her in the shoulder when she refused.
“She said, ‘You broke my heart,’” Archie recalled. “Then she said, ‘I didn’t mean to.’”
Archie survived but still carries lasting pain from the injury. Her husband was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Affair and “Open Marriage” Claims Surface
During cross-examination, defense attorney Lauren Fuchs revealed video evidence suggesting that Perry and Daniels had been in a two-year secret relationship.
Daniels’ defense argued that Perry seduced Daniels during counseling sessions, telling her that he and his wife had an open marriage and that Archie had approved of his relationship with Daniels.
In one video clip played for the jury, Perry discussed “ethical non-monogamy,” claiming his wife was “perfectly fine with how I’ve handled it.” Another video featured Perry saying Archie made “an exception” for Daniels.
Archie, however, denied all claims of an open relationship under oath.
“To my knowledge, there was no relationship,” Archie told the court. “None of it was true.”
She also testified that she had noticed Perry’s heavy use of a chat app tied to a book club he claimed discussed The Ethical Slut — a book about polyamory — but said she believed his explanation at the time.
Prosecutors Say the Killing Was Premeditated
Prosecutors allege that Daniels drove from Arkansas to Tennessee with a loaded 9mm handgun after Perry ended their affair. They argue she planned the confrontation and intended to kill Perry out of revenge.
Defense attorneys counter that Daniels was suicidal and heartbroken, buying the gun to take her own life but instead confronting Perry after he invited her to “come clean” about the relationship to his wife.
The courtroom has been shown texts, video clips, and police bodycam footage as jurors attempt to piece together what happened that night — and what led a once-trusted church member to murder a pastor she claimed to love.
The case has shaken the faith community across Arkansas and Tennessee, revealing a story of betrayal, heartbreak, and violence within the walls of a respected church family. The trial of Latoshia Daniels continues this week in Shelby County Criminal Court.
For updates and detailed coverage on the trial’s developments, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.