Named for slain Tennessee deputy, bill would create domestic violence offender registry
Three years after Robertson County Sheriff's Deputy Savanna Puckett was found shot to death inside her burning home, a new law that seeks to track repeat domestic violence offenders is making its way through the Tennessee legislature and it's been named in her honor.
Tennessee State Representative Sabi 'Doc' Kumar of Robertson County introduced House Bill 1200, known as Savanna's Law, to strengthen domestic violence protections statewide.
More: TBI: Robertson Co. deputy found shot, dead inside burning home; man arrested
More: Family mourns slain Middle Tennessee deputy: 'A brilliant light in our dark world'
If passed, the law would create a registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for people convicted of a second and subsequent domestic violence offense and make offender information, such as names, dates of birth, conviction dates, counties of conviction and current photographs, publicly available online, the Tennessee House Republican Caucus recently announced.
Sensitive information like addresses and Social Security numbers would not be shown.
"Savanna's Law provides a critical step toward protecting future victims and holding repeat domestic violence offenders accountable,' Kumar said in prepared statements. 'The registry will give communities the tools they need to stay informed and safe."
More: What we know about the death of Robertson County deputy Savanna Puckett
More: Affidavit: Empty lighter fluid bottles found in home of slain Robertson County deputy
Puckett, 22, died on Jan. 23, 2022.
Authorities learned of her death after she failed to show up for work. Another deputy went to check on her around 5 p.m. and found her home on the 5100 block of Highway 41 engulfed in flames.
Once on scene, a firefighter found her body on the bedroom floor of her Springfield home under a blanket. The four-year department veteran died from multiple gunshots to most of her body.
More: Audio: Days before her death, Robertson deputy said ex showed up to house uninvited
More: Autopsy reveals new details in brutal slaying of Robertson County deputy Savanna Puckett
According to a nine-page autopsy report authored by Assistant Medical Examiner David Zimmerman, Puckett was shot eight times; once in the head, right arm, right breast, left breast, left forearm and left hand and three times in the back.
Her death was ruled a homicide.
James Jackson Conn, an ex-boyfriend of Puckett's, was arrested in connection with her death after an hours-long standoff that stemmed from the execution of a search warrant at his Odom Court home in Smyrna.
Conn was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. He pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder and is serving a life sentence.
More: Tennessee to seek death penalty for man accused of killing Robertson County deputy
Throughout the course of their investigation into Puckett's death, authorities discovered Conn had prior offenses for domestic assault, officials said at the time.
Should Savanna's law become state law, court clerks would be required to send certified copies of any offender convictions that meet the criteria for the new registry to the bureau within seven days.
The bill outlines a $150 registration fee partially retained by the court clerk and TBI. Clerks would retain $50 for administrative costs, while TBI would retain the remaining $100 to maintain the registry.
If passed, the law would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2026.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee 'Savanna's Law' honors slain deputy, seeks new offender list
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
4 hours ago
- News24
Fake Sassa grants ‘news' is exploding online. Here's how to spot the lies
YouTube channels and fake news websites are pumping out dozens of false stories about Sassa grants and jobs every month. These hoaxes prey on vulnerable recipients, spreading confusion, false hope or panic. Many are clearly fake, Andrew Thompson writes, but they have still managed to infiltrate public discourse and be widely shared. South Africa's social grant system is under digital siege. A flood of fake news targeting the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has spread across Facebook, YouTube and a network of low-quality, foreign-run websites. These stories are designed to mislead, confuse or panic grant recipients, often with the aim of generating clicks and ad revenue by preying on vulnerable beneficiaries. YouTube channels with tens of thousands of subscribers and some videos with hundreds of thousands of views have together uploaded hundreds of fake videos this year alone. They claim imminent changes to payouts, onerous new rules, or exciting bonuses. Dozens of websites posing as job boards or news sites have also published false notices about new jobs, grant amounts, pension cuts, and backlogged payments. Screengrab None of these channels have any connection to South African state institutions, yet they continue to reach large audiences and prompt real-world concern, forcing Sassa to issue repeated denials. In May, Sassa issued a media statement highlighting the extent of the problem and warning that it is 'concerned about the mushrooming and the rapid spread of fake news and disinformation targeting the Agency and its services almost daily'. It stressed that it has made no announcements about 'double grants', changes to pension rules, or automatic top-ups, which are among the most popular fake news stories that tend to gain traction. 'Furthermore, reports have been spreading like wildfire that Sassa has announced 'New Rules Could Affect Your Pension' from 10 June. The report has even gone further and announced various dates for different provinces. This is not an official announcement from Sassa,' the cautionary statement reads. How fake Sassa grant news spreads: volume, panic, and false hope The wave of Sassa disinformation in 2025 has followed two broad patterns, regardless of the medium or the outlet disseminating it, and the content is broadly split into two themes: fake job adverts and fake grant updates. The job advertisements regularly go viral. They claim that well-paid government positions requiring no experience are available and often direct users to deceptive forms or clickbait sites that mine data. These regularly appear as images on fake government letterheads that circulate widely on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and X. SASSA The fake grant updates employ a more familiar disinformation approach with a different motive. These mostly AI-generated false news articles report on increased or double payments, pension rule changes, or Sassa 'deadlines' that risk non-payment of grants. All are presented without basis, and often spill over from clearly fake websites into public discourse. Fake news websites and YouTube accounts repeatedly publish variations of similar videos and articles, many of which use text-to-speech tools and AI-generated thumbnails to appear convincing. The tone ranges from panic ('rules changing next week!') to false reassurance ('you can still claim your R7 000 today'). Most rely on sheer volume, hoping that one story or job advert will catch on and spread - as many already have. News24's Disinformation Desk has counted hundreds of fake news articles about Sassa currently online, and although many fade into obscurity, an increasing number are breaking through requiring official responses. Screengrab For now, the motive of these platforms appears to be financial gain. Most of the videos are hosted on monetised channels, and the websites link to Google Adwords accounts. If these get enough traction from panicked recipients, they will generate some revenue for the owners. Yet ironically, much of the vitality of this material reveals itself on platforms like WhatsApp without direct links to the source, which do not generate the website owners income but have the same impact on grant recipients. The majority of the Sassa disinformation that gains mainstream traction appears not to have an overt political motive or agenda, yet. Instead, it is riding on the wave of attention afforded by this vulnerable target market, many of whom are understandably deceived by the deluge. Rapid-fire Sassa debunks from the last few months alone News24's Disinformation Desk has identified hundreds of fake news stories and videos targeting Sassa recipients published in the last few months alone. Here are the most prominent examples, with their themes often emulated across other fake news sites: A viral post linking to a website called All Provinces Jobs claimed that 'South African government jobs 2025' were open for applications. The link leads to a fraudulent website not affiliated with any government department. Similar posts appeared on Facebook pages falsely advertising hiring opportunities through Sassa, often featuring job titles and closing dates to lend false credibility and create a sense of urgency. YouTube channels 'SASSA Benefits Updates' and 'Stimulus Sam' have released several dozen videos each about grant payments in South Africa, including that increased Sassa payments would be made in June 2025. The videos utilise text-to-speech narration featuring a vaguely South African accent and footage that is clearly created with generative AI. Both channels are entirely fake. A report hosted on the fake news website Debtcol Council claimed that 'new rules could affect your pension' from 10 June. Sassa has confirmed that this is also false. Another story on that website claimed application backlogs had been cleared, while yet another suggested a new top-up payment was in progress. All are fabricated. A website called Prabh Honda published a story about Sassa grant suspensions, which is entirely baseless and without truth. A piece on Rise Up WV, a website responsible for several prominent fake news items, stated that grant beneficiaries needed to reapply for doubled payments due to 'SASSA system updates'. There is no basis for this in any of Sassa's official communications. Why it matters - and how to protect yourself or family members Many of the intended recipients of these grants are older, economically vulnerable, and may not be experienced with digital literacy or fact-checking online. The combination of desperation and trust in anything that looks official makes this a fertile ground for exploitation via disinformation. These false reports don't just casually mislead - comments beneath even palpably false news items and videos indicate the confusion and desperation many experience about this topic. This fake news also distracts Sassa, which is already stretched in the payment grants, by forcing them to correct disinformation. To stay safe, advise family members of the following: Check only official Sassa channels: Information is reliably published on and Sassa's verified X and Facebook pages. Do not trust any information sent via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Sassa does not communicate important information via forwarded messages. Never enter personal information into a form on a website claiming to offer Sassa job opportunities. Ignore YouTube channels with videos claiming to be the Department of Social Development or Sassa. Sassa's official YouTube page is not used to share news about grants. When in doubt, don't share: spreading false information, even with good intentions, can cause unnecessary panic.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hackers leak 86 million AT&T customer records with 44 million social security numbers, report says
If you are one of the more than 100 million people who use AT&T, you might want to take stock of your data. Hackers said they accessed and leaked millions of AT&T customers' private information after the ShinyHunters group allegedly stole the data in April 2024, according to a new report from Hack Read. The report claimed some 86 million AT&T customer records have been leaked, including full names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and social security numbers. In total, Hack Read reported that 44 million social security numbers were included in the leaked data. The social security numbers and birth dates were encrypted in the original hack by the ShinyHunters group, a leak that was made possible by security flaws in the Snowflake cloud data platform, as Mashable previously reported. Now, Hack Read has reported that this sensitive data is now decrypted. We asked AT&T about the reported leak of their customer data. An AT&T spokesperson told Mashable in a statement that "it is not uncommon for cybercriminals to re-package previously disclosed data for financial gain." "We are aware of claims that AT&T data is being made available for sale on dark web forums, and we are conducting a full investigation," the spokesperson added. So, if you're an AT&T customer, this means your valuable private data could be part of this new leak. However, if your data was exposed in this leak, it was likely — although not certainly — already exposed in the August 2024 National Public Data breach. Mashable previously reported on this breach, which exposed "three decades' worth of Social Security numbers on the online black market." You can find out if your data was exposed in that breach by using a tool from Pentester, a cybersecurity firm, to check. Visit enter your information, and see your list of breached accounts.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Waltham man found guilty of 2020 fatal stabbing on Halloween
A Waltham man has been found guilty of stabbing and killing his former housemate, Kevin Fitzgerald, on Halloween of 2020, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office. Jonathan Galindo, 38, was found guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated burglary following a three-week trial that began May 8, the DA's office said in a Friday news release. At 9:14 p.m. Oct. 31, 2020, Fitzgerald, 61, called 911 and told police he had been stabbed in his Waltham home and was dying, officials said. Police found him bleeding but conscious at the threshold of the home, and he told them he had been stabbed by a man wearing a ninja mask. Fitzgerald was brought to the hospital, where he died just after 10 p.m. He was stabbed three times in the chest, shoulder and thigh. An autopsy revealed that the chest wound, which punctured his lung, was fatal. At the home on Alder Street, police found blood, a knife, a fingerprint on the back storm door and a set of footprints in the snow leading to that door, according to the district attorney's office. Four days after Fitzgerald's death, police matched the fingerprint on the storm door to Galindo, who was Fitzgerald's former housemate and had moved out of the apartment that spring. DNA on the handle of the knife also matched Galindo, officials said. On Nov. 7, police received an arrest warrant for Galindo. They also found a black mask in his closet. Location data from Galindo's phone showed him at the Alder Street apartment on the night of Fitzgerald's death, officials said. The phone's internet search history also showed repeated searches for 'Any recent stabbings in Waltham last night?' the following day. A sentencing hearing for Galindo has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on July 15. DOGE team can access Social Security systems, US Supreme Court rules Springfield Pride headliner Dawn Richard told 'Diddy' jurors of threats, violence, abuse Mass. teacher arrested, accused of faking degrees and military history Chicopee police cruiser spotted in Philadelphia causes social media buzz Lil Wayne releases new album 'Tha Carter VI,' announces 2025 tour - Here's how to buy tickets Read the original article on MassLive.
