Tatiana Emerson
Rhasean Lowry appears before Judge Christie Mahn Sell on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, on charges of homicide in the death of his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter Tatiana Emerson. His case has been pushed to Oct. 1, 2014.FOR MORE INFORMATIONWhat: The Stop the Violence Give Hope luncheon will give participants information on domestic violence, like how to help a friend, what the signs of abuse are and an overview of community resources.Where: Partnership for Families, Children and Adults at 1800 McCallie Ave.When: Sept. 25, at noonDomestic violence crisis hot line: 423-755-2700Source: Partnership for Families, Children and Adults
MADISONVILLE, Tenn. - Jody Hawkins sits on her front porch with thick tears rushing down her face and remembers her 3-year-old granddaughter.
Tatiana Emerson was a talkative toddler right up until Aug. 27, the day she died.
"I can still hear her," Hawkins says. "She used to say, 'I love you,' but she'd actually say, 'I huv you.'"
She chokes back a sob.
"I can hear her," she says, closing her eyes. "And I say, please God, please don't turn it off."
And then Hawkins doesn't try to hold back the sobs any longer, and they rack her body.
Tatiana died a day after her mother's boyfriend, Rhasean Lowry, brought Tatiana's limp body to a Chattanooga hospital and told police the girl had fallen down some stairs at the motel the family was staying at. The evidence contradicted his story.
Child abuse experts said Tatiana died of blunt force trauma -- injuries consistent with a severe beating. Lowry, 34, was charged with criminal homicide and two counts of child abuse. One for Tatiana, and one for her 5-year-old brother, who told police that Lowry beat him. Tatiana's mom, Melanie Emerson, did not respond to interview requests for this story.
In the 18 days since she died, Tatiana's extended family have struggled with the reality of her death. Hawkins cries often. Her husband, Ralph Hawkins -- Tatiana's step-grandfather -- says it's hard to come home after work and face the wrenching sorrow. He chokes up when he talks about Tatiana, whom they nicknamed "Tootie."
"They took a piece of us," he said. "A very dear piece. You don't know how dear."
Tatiana and her brother stayed with the Hawkinses here in this small town in Monroe County on and off over the years -- three or four or five months at a time. They'd also live with other extended family. The children had only been living with their mom and Lowry for a few weeks before Tatiana died.
The Hawkinses said they had never seen signs of physical abuse when the kids lived with them. But now, they wonder if they could have missed something.
Lowry never made eye contact when he talked, Jody Hawkins said. Tatiana's older brother, TrayVon, didn't like to go anywhere with Lowry. And once, about a week before she died, Tatiana got a few cuts on her face. Lowry told the family he had been playing and threw her on the bed, but she bounced off and got hurt.
When that happened, Ralph Hawkins told his daughter to bring the kids back to his home. But she didn't want to.
"I saw her after and she said, 'I wish to God I'd brought her, Dad,'" Ralph Hawkins said, voice cracking. He struggled to speak. "We would have done anything for those babies. And I still will."
Tatiana's aunt, Mary Foster, said the family will be at Lowry's court appearance on Oct. 1. If he killed Tatiana, they want justice. But first, they want the truth.
"We don't know if he did it," Ralph Hawkins said. "Anyone could have come into that [motel] room. But if he did it, we hate his guts."
Tatiana is buried in Cleveland. And as every new allegation of abuse emerges, the family shudders.
"She was safe," Ralph Hawkins said. "She was safe right here in this house. She was safe."
Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or at sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas.