Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor appears in court Tuesday

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - The woman accused of killing a Memphis pastor fought back tears during her first court appearance on Tuesday.

Latoshia Daniels is accused of killing 36-year-old Brodes Perry during an apparent domestic dispute earlier this month in Collierville. His wife was also shot.

Perry served as the executive pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

According a police report, Daniels yelled “you broke my heart” while shooting Perry at the Meridian Park Apartments.

Daniels was emotional inside the Collierville courtroom Tuesday and wiped away tears as her next court date was set.

Police records also show Daniels tried to escape police custody hours after the shooting. She’s facing several charges including first degree murder, attempted murder and assault on an officer.

Daniels is a licensed social worker in Arkansas. According to the Psychology Today website, she specializes in Anger Management and Domestic Violence.

She entered a not guilty plea during her last court hearing.

“We’re taking this slowly,” her attorney Leslie Ballin said. “We are taking this professionally and we’re going to do what needs to be done.”

Ballin says they continue to enter a not guilty plea.

"She's not used to being where she is,” Ballin said. “She's not feeling very well. She's accused of the most serious crime a person can be accused of. She understands the gravity of it and I think her emotions are appropriate."

While the state and defense were scheduling Daniels' next court appearance, the state mentioned the witness they plan to bring forward is going through some health issues.

WMC5 asked Ballin if he expects Perry's wife to be a witness for the state at the next court date, and he said "bingo."

In a Facebook livestream on April 14, Reverend Dr. J. Lawrence Turner from Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church spoke about Perry's passing.

“The rumors swelling around his murder leave us shocked and shaken to those of you who are wondering how could this happen, how could this happen? Within our safe and loving church community to those in particular who came to know him within the five months he was at Mississippi Boulevard I want to say, I’m heavyhearted because of your pain.”

"The state has to put on proof, and they will call at least one possibly more witnesses,” Ballin said. “It's my understanding that potentially one of the witness the government would rely on to show probable cause may have a health problem."

According to the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board site, Daniels was licensed in 2012 and her license is set to expire in 2020.

Daniels is due back in court on May 14, and she’s still being held without bond. Ballin says they aren’t giving up on a bond request, which will come at a later date.

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