Chilling 5-Word Confession After Man Allegedly Hammers Grandmother and Steals Her Car

Kerrien Dates, 23, was apprehended in Jackson, Tennessee, approximately 90 miles from his grandmother's home in Memphis, where he allegedly confessed to police, "I think I killed her."

The incident unfolded when Kerrien's mother returned home on June 4, around 4:30 p.m., only to find her mother, 58-year-old Sonya Dates, lying lifeless on the floor, surrounded by blood and a hammer nearby. This shocking discovery left her grappling with the aftermath of a family tragedy.

Reports indicate that Kerrien had been living with Sonya but had recently been involved in disputes that led his mother to decide to remove him from the household for safety reasons. An affidavit revealed that tensions had escalated, prompting this drastic measure.

Upon arriving at the scene, investigators noted that Sonya appeared to have just returned from work, as she was found with her backpack and lunch bag still intact. The nature of her injuries was severe; she had suffered four blunt force trauma wounds to the back of her head. A paramedic pronounced her dead at the scene.

As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered that Sonya's 2020 Chevrolet Camaro was missing from the residence. An alert for the stolen vehicle was issued shortly thereafter.

On the same day, local police located Kerrien driving the stolen Camaro in Jackson. When questioned about the traffic stop, he reportedly stated, "I hit Sonya in the head with a hammer and I think I killed her," further implicating himself in the crime.

Kerrien Dates was taken into custody and subsequently booked at Shelby County Jail on June 5. He faces charges of first-degree murder and theft of property valued between $10,000 and $60,000. His court appearance is scheduled for June 9.

For those affected by domestic violence, resources are available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or online at thehotline.org. The hotline offers confidential support 24/7 in over 170 languages.