Man released on bail in Nashville now charged in death of Mississippi woman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – A man arrested in Nashville for beating his girlfriend nearly to death is now the prime suspect in her death in Mississippi.

Bricen Rivers, 23, is the suspect in the Mississippi woman’s death on Wednesday, local law enforcement officials told WLOX. The woman’s family called NewsChannel 5 on Thursday morning to confirm it was their daughter. Police found her dead in a vehicle after her family reported her missing.

However, Rivers was released on bail in Nashville a few days ago.

“We opposed the bail reduction ordered by Criminal Judge Cheryl Blackburn,” said Steve Hayslip, spokesman for the Nashville District Attorney’s Office. “We have nothing to do with the bail conditions. Those are imposed by the judge and monitored by the jail.”

In December, he was charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated stalking and witness harassment following an incident when he and the victim were vacationing downtown and became angry.

Metro police said the victim called them and told her family Rivers could kill her. The victim’s family called 911 from another state to report what happened.

When the couple left downtown, they got into the car, where, according to police, Rivers began hitting the victim while driving and took her phone. Rivers eventually stopped the car in a parking lot, where the attack continued, causing the victim to nearly lose consciousness.

Officers worked with the victim’s family to determine her location in North Nashville, where the couple’s rental car was found at an intersection. Metro police said officers heard the victim banging on the vehicle as she tried to escape the attack. When officers arrived, she was able to get out of the car, but police said Rivers was seen reaching for a firearm in the back seat, but authorities were able to stop him. He was then taken into custody.

According to police records, his original bail was $251,000. However, in Judge Blackburn’s court, that bail was reduced to $150,000.

Records show Rivers was arraigned in April and his last court date was July 2. Two different companies – Brooke’s Bail Bonding and On Time Bail Bonds – each provided $75,000 to get Rivers released. Additional court records are unavailable because of the July 4 holiday.

What is the difference?

We know getting help can be daunting, scary and complicated. Below you’ll find some places to go in your country.

All counties: Morning Star Sanctuary – (615) 860-0188 / Nurture the Next – (615) 383-0994 / The Mary Parrish Center – (615) 256-5959 / YWCA Nashville – (615) 983-5160

Bedford / Coffee County: Harbor of Hope – (931) 728-1133

County Cheatham: Cheatham County Safe Harbor – (615) 681-5863

Cannon County: Cannon County SAVINGS – (615)-563-6690

Clay County: Genesis House – (931) 525-1637

Davidson County: Family and Children Services – (615) 320-0591 / Family Safety Center – (615) 880-1100 / Jean Crowe Advocacy Center – (615) 862-4767

Dickson and Hickman counties: Women are Safe (931) 729-9885

Giles County: The Shelter, Inc. – (931) 762-1115

Grundy County: Families in Crisis, Inc. – (931) 473-6543

Houston / Montgomery counties: Urban Methodist Urban Ministries Shelter – (931) 648-9100

County of Maury: Center of Hope – (931) 840-0916

Robertson / Sumner / Wilson counties: HomeSafe Inc. – (615) 452-5439

County Rutherford: Domestic and Sexual Violence Center – (615) 896-7377

Williamson County: Bridges Domestic Violence Center – (615) 599-5777

This club witnessed the beginnings of the AIDS crisis and decided to do something about it.

Despite their own grief and hatred, these gentlemen worked to save lives. Forrest Sanders provides us with a history lesson whose impact is still felt throughout Nashville.

-Carrie Sharp