Investigators say the 28-year-old victim, a mother of three, was found outside and died at a hospital; an autopsy is pending.
COVINGTON, Tenn. — Detectives arrested a Covington man after officers found a woman unclothed and unconscious in a backyard on Price Street around 6:30 a.m. Dec. 30 and later confirmed she had died at a hospital, according to police.
The case shifted from an emergency medical call to a homicide investigation within hours, authorities said, as officers secured the property, canvassed neighbors and collected physical evidence. The victim was identified as Jonesha Robinson, 28. Police said the suspect, identified as Aireiz Macklin, was detained, interviewed and booked on second-degree murder, aggravated domestic assault and tampering-with-evidence charges. Prosecutors set bond at $1 million while the medical examiner conducts an autopsy that could shape the final charging decisions.
Responding officers reported visible head trauma when they found Robinson in the yard behind the single-story home. “Officers began life-saving efforts” until Tipton County EMS arrived and transported her to the hospital, the department said. Detectives worked with the district attorney and the medical examiner from the outset, securing the scene with tape and placing evidence markers along the fence line and patio before technicians removed several items for analysis.
Macklin, listed by police as the home’s occupant, is also on probation in an unrelated felony harassment case, according to authorities. Investigators described the charges as preliminary until the autopsy is complete at the Regional Forensic Center in Memphis. Officials have not said whether Robinson and Macklin had a prior relationship or detailed what occurred inside the home before officers were called. The department did not release 911 audio or body-camera footage and did not say whether previous police calls were made to the address.
Robinson’s death drew residents to the block throughout the morning. A neighbor said she noticed flashing lights just after sunrise and watched officers move between the backyard and a detached shed. Another resident, who declined to be named, said officers asked if any doorbell cameras captured overnight activity. By midday, a small memorial of flowers and candles appeared near the curb. People who knew Robinson described her as devoted to her three children and said the news spread quickly through family and friends around Town Creek and the courthouse square.
Police said additional updates will follow once the autopsy is complete and evidence processing is finished. A first court appearance had not been posted by Thursday. Investigators are reviewing digital evidence and neighborhood cameras and expect to return to the area for follow-up interviews. The next formal step is the initial hearing, which will determine counsel and set the timeline for future proceedings.
By late Thursday, Macklin remained jailed on $1 million bond while investigators awaited autopsy findings and lab results. Detectives plan to release new details when the medical examiner returns preliminary conclusions and the court sets an appearance date.
Author note: Last updated January 1, 2026.