Bio

Tierra Capri Gobble was born on April 18, 1983. She grew up in a challenging environment that would shape her life in many ways. As a child, she faced difficulties that affected her upbringing. While specific details about her early childhood are limited, it is known that she had a tumultuous family life.

By the time she became a young adult, Tierra had already experienced significant troubles. She became a mother at a young age and had three children in total. Her first child, Jewell, was removed from her custody due to concerns about abuse and neglect. This marked the beginning of her struggles with the child welfare system. The Florida Department of Children and Families stepped in to ensure the safety of her children.

Tierra gave birth to her second child, Phoenix Cody Parrish, on August 8, 2004, in Plant City, Florida. Just 24 hours after his birth, Phoenix was taken from her custody by the same child welfare agency. Her father, Edgar Parrish, was granted guardianship of Phoenix and another daughter. Tierra became involved with her children again when she and her boyfriend moved into her father's home in October 2004.

During this time, Tierra faced more challenges. Reports indicate that she struggled with the responsibilities of parenthood and had moments of frustration with her children. The state had previously given her warnings and restrictions regarding contact with her children, but she went against those orders. This decision reflected her ongoing difficulties in managing her life and her relationships with her children.

By December 2004, Tierra's life took a tragic turn that would alter her family's dynamics forever. The earlier events of her life combined with the circumstances surrounding her children would culminate in dire outcomes.

Murder Story

On December 15, 2004, Tierra Capri Gobble found her four-month-old son, Phoenix Cody Parrish, unresponsive in his crib. After calling her friend for help, emergency services were contacted, but Phoenix was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

An autopsy revealed that Phoenix had suffered severe injuries. These included a fractured skull, broken ribs, broken wrists, and numerous bruises all over his body. The cause of death was determined to be blunt-force trauma, consistent with child abuse.

At the time of the incident, Gobble had been living with her father, Edgar Parrish, who had custody of Phoenix due to previous incidents of abuse and neglect involving Gobble. Despite being under a court order not to be in contact with her children, Gobble continued to stay with them.

During the investigation, Gobble admitted to hitting Phoenix's head against the crib when he would not stop crying. She claimed that this could have led to his injuries. There were also witnesses who testified about Gobble's mindset, including a friend who recalled Gobble expressing that if she could not have her children, then no one could.

Gobble was arrested on the same day as the murder. After a trial, she was convicted of capital murder. The jury recommended a death sentence, which was imposed in December 2005. She appealed her conviction, but the appeals court upheld the sentence, citing the brutality of the act and the clear evidence of child abuse.