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District attorneys back expanding aggravating circumstances for child-sex homicide cases; bill advances
Summary
Hamilton County DA Cody Womp and Stephen Crump of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference testified in favor of HB 14-54, which would add multiple aggravating circumstances to permit death-penalty eligibility in the most egregious child sexual-abuse homicides. The committee voted to advance the bill to full judiciary.
Hamilton County District Attorney Cody Womp told the subcommittee the bill responded to a "horrific, aggravated child sexual-abuse case" in January 2025 and said current aggravating factors did not adequately cover the most egregious cases. "We recommended ... 12 aggravating factors that we could present ... to a jury," Womp said, adding that the changes would give prosecutors a clearer basis to seek the death penalty in the most severe cases.
Stephen Crump, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, said the bill is part of the conference's legislative package and the conference supports it. Following testimony and brief questions, the committee voted to send HB 14-54 to full judiciary (6 ayes, 0 nos, 1 present not voting).
