Governor Lee Signs ‘Savanna’s Law’ in Memory of Robertson County Deputy
ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has officially signed “Savanna’s Law,” legislation establishing a public registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence in the state.
The law was named in honor of Robertson County Deputy Savanna Puckett, who was killed in her Springfield home on January 23, 2022. Her ex-boyfriend, James Conn, pleaded guilty to her murder, which involved multiple gunshots and arson. Conn had a documented history of domestic assault arrests prior to the killing.
Under the new law, those convicted of or pleading guilty to domestic assault may be required to register—but only if the victim consents. If the victim does not consent or is unavailable, the court cannot order the offender to register.
Once a court does order registration, the clerk must submit the qualifying conviction to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) within 60 days. The registry, maintained by the TBI, will be accessible to the public.
Details of the Registry:
Information available to the public will include:
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Name
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Date of birth
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Date of conviction
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County or counties where the conviction occurred
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A paragraph describing the individual
Removal from the Registry:
A person’s name may be removed from the registry by the TBI under certain conditions:
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After one year, if the individual has no prior convictions for domestic assault
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After two years, with one prior conviction
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After five years, with two prior convictions
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After ten years, with four or more prior convictions
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Within five days of a victim’s written request to the TBI to remove the defendant
Private information—such as home address, Social Security number, driver’s license number, and other personal identifiers—will not be publicly displayed.
A $150 registration fee applies to individuals placed on the registry.
FULL BACK STORY
Robertson Deputy Found Shot Inside Burning Home
SPRINGFIELD TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of 22-year-old Patrol Deputy Savanna Puckett who was found shot in her home as it was engulfed in flames.
According to the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Savanna Puckett did not report to her assigned shift for roll-call at 5 pm. A Deputy went to her residence on Highway 41N in Springfield, TN to check on her, and found her home engulfed in flames.
The Deputy attempted to make entry into the home; however, was unable due to the extent of the fire. The Fire Department arrived and made entry into the residence where they found Deputy Puckett shot. Deputy Puckett was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputy Puckett was 22 years old and had been with the Sheriff’s Office for four (4) years. The TBI has been requested to investigate.
“Words cannot express the sadness and grief that Savanna’s family and her Sheriff’s Office family are facing right now. This is a tragedy that we are processing minute by minute. Please keep Savanna, her family, and the Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers,” stated Sheriff Michael Van Dyke.
UPDATE: A Go-Fund-Me has been set up to assist Savanna’s family with expenses. It has been verified by Smokey Barn News. CLICK HERE TO DONATE
UPDATE:: Multiple sources: Police have taken someone into custody regarding the death of Robertson County sheriff’s deputy Savanna Puckett after a stand-off at a home on Odom Lane in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Updated statement released from the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office Monday afternoon:
“Patrol Deputy Savanna Puckett is a great loss to all of us here at the Sheriff’s Office. We will grieve her death today, tomorrow, and many days to come. Savanna started her career at the Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer in December of 2017 at the age of 18 and was promoted to Booking Officer in the Detention Facility in November of 2018.
“Savanna had aspirations of advancing her career to the Patrol Division and made that dream a reality when she was promoted to Patrol Deputy in May 2020, and officially graduated from Walter State Law Enforcement Academy in September 2020.
“In the 4 years that Savanna was with the Sheriff’s Office, she touched the lives of everyone. Savanna was the one who always showed up early to her shift with a smile on her face. She was hardworking and cared deeply for each and every person here. She was a mother hen to us all and frequently cooked meals and baked goodies for her shift. She was tough, courageous, kind, compassionate, and had an infectious personality that will always be remembered.”
Smyrna Man Charged In Death of Deputy Savanna Puckett
UPDATE: Judge Finds Probable Cause To Send Case To Grand Jury
—The preliminary hearing in the case of State of Tennessee v. James Jackson Conn was held on February 10, 2022. After the hearing, General Sessions Judge Joel Perry allowed the case to move to the Grand Jury. VIEW THE ENTIRE HEARING HERE
UPDATE 2/3/2022 The preliminary hearing in the case of State of Tennessee v. James Jackson Conn is being rescheduled from Friday, February 4, 2022, until Thursday, February 10, 2022, due to expected inclement weather.
UPDATE: A Go-Fund-Me has been set up to assist Savanna’s family with expenses. It has been verified by Smokey Barn News. CLICK HERE TO DONATE
Smokey’s original video report…
Robertson Deputy Found Shot Inside Burning Home CLICK HERE
Deputy Savanna Puckett Funeral Service —The Funeral Service Deputy Savanna Puckett was held on January 29 and was broadcast live by the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office. Click here to view a recording of the service.
Smyrna Man Charged In Death of Deputy Savanna Puckett
ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – According to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a Smyrna man has been arrested and charged in connection to the death of a deputy from the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office.
At the request of 19th District Attorney General Robert Nash, TBI agents began investigating the death of 22-year-old Savanna Puckett on Sunday evening, shortly after Puckett’s colleagues found her deceased, with a gunshot wound, after extinguishing a fire inside her home in the 5100 block of Highway 41 North in Springfield.
During the investigation, agents developed information leading to 27-year old James Jackson Conn, an acquaintance, as the person responsible for her death and the fire at her home. Early Monday morning, TBI agents, Rutherford County deputies, and Smyrna Police officers arrived at Conn’s home on Odom Court to execute a search warrant, which led to an hours-long standoff.
Later in the morning, SWAT officers from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office entered the home and arrested Conn without incident. TBI agents have obtained warrants, charging Conn with one count of First-Degree Murder and one count of Aggravated Arson. This evening, authorities booked him into the Robertson County Jail, where, at the time of this release, he was being held without bond.
On August 3, 2023, James Jackson Conn pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, aggravated arson, and aggravated burglary in the death of Deputy Savanna Puckett. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 75 years, thereby avoiding the death penalty. Puckett, 22, was found shot multiple times inside her burning Springfield home on January 23, 2022. Investigators recovered .40 caliber shell casings and lighter fluid bottles bearing Conn’s fingerprints at the scene. Conn was arrested the following day after an hours-long standoff at his Smyrna residence. His guilty plea concluded a case that deeply affected the Robertson County community and spurred legislative action to enhance protections for domestic violence victims.
