Yates sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — On Monday, January 12, 2026, in the Circuit Court of Gibson County, Frederick Yates (24) was sentenced by the Honorable Clayburn Peeples to serve two consecutive life sentences and an additional 18 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

This comes after a three-day jury trial in September of 2025, where Yates was found guilty of Two Counts of First-Degree Murder, Two Counts of Felony Murder, Especially Aggravated Burglary, Two Counts of Employing a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Two Counts of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Two Counts of Facilitation of First Degree Murder, and Tampering with Evidence, for the murders of Diamond Love and Marcus Smith Jr. in August of 2021.

“The Defendant was sentenced to serve 138 years for violently taking the lives of Diamond Love and Marcus Smith Jr.  We are thankful that our Office was successful in removing this dangerous defendant from the community of our law-abiding citizens. Unless the Defendant gets some relief in the Court of Criminal Appeals, he is not going to survive his prison sentence. Our Office is committed to removing violent offenders like this Defendant from Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties. We have safe communities, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Frederick H. Agee, District Attorney General.

This case was prosecuted by District Attorney General Frederick H. Agee and Assistant District Attorney Nina W. Seiler.

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