Weakley County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Murder

In July 2022, a couple was arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of a McKenzie man. In 2023 they were both bound over via indictment to the Weakley County Grand Jury. This year, both faced judgments for their actions almost two years ago.

Julien De Mone Hardin, 36, of Martin then later Mobile, Alabama, and Tiffani Grogan of Dresden were both bound to the grand jury over after a preliminary hearing in Weakley County General Sessions Court earlier that week. They were each charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.

A press release issued by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department on July 10, 2022, reported deputies were dispatched to Bells Store and Patterson roads just outside of McKenzie for a report of a person lying in the road. Deputies found Terry Beard, 49, of Milan on the side of the road deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.

Grogan was sentenced in the 27th Judicial District Circuit Court on Monday, Nov. 27, by Judge Jeff Parham after entering a guilty plea to two charges: Accessory After the Fact and Child Neglect, both Class E Felonies.

Grogan was sentenced to four years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for each charge to run concurrently, but the sentences were suspended in lieu of time served.

In the original police report, Grogan was charged with First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Assault by Weakley County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Neil Cantrell after Cantrell alleged that Gorgan had robbed and shot Beard.

Grogan was later indicted on charges of Unlawful Carrying or Possession of a Weapon, Accessory After the Fact, Child Neglect or Endangerment, First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Robbery, and Conspiracy to Commit Especially Aggravated Robbery.

The four other charges were dismissed, and Grogan will serve 41 days in jail and ordered to be placed probation for a period of three years, 10 months, and 11 days.

Hardin judgement was passed on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, court date, where he took a plea deal for 30 years on a lesser charge of Second-Degree Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery. Hardin will serve 100% of his sentence at the Tennessee Department of Corrections and the 30 years will run consecutive for both charges. As a part of Hardin’s terms, his weapon will be forfeited to the Weakley County Sheriffs Department.