CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WTVC) — A man was found shot to death inside a Chattanooga hotel room near Hamilton Place, and investigators say the woman who rented the room left with his phone, keys and wallet before speeding away.
Chattanooga Police were called to the Aloft Hotel at 2090 Hamilton Place Boulevard at about 1 p.m. Tuesday on a report of a dead person, according to a police affidavit we obtained.
Inside a room, officers found 35-year-old Tyler Miller, lying on the floor with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his head.
Investigators say there was a large amount of dried blood around him, and evidence showed he had been dead for several hours.
Officers found no firearms or spent shell casings in the room.
The affidavit says hotel records and surveillance video showed that a woman, later identified as Rachel Perry-Mellen, had rented the room and entered it alone around 6 p.m. on Monday.
Video then shows Miller arriving later. Police say he put his cell phone and keys into his pants pockets, knocked on the door and went inside.
Several minutes later, detectives say the woman left the room wearing different shoes and without her outer jacket.
Investigators noted her movements appeared nervous as she quickly exited the hotel and got into a black Jeep Grand Cherokee with black wheels.
Police say she was carrying a large handbag that could have concealed items.
When officers found Miller, his keys, cell phone and wallet were not in his pockets or anywhere in the room.
Investigators say that indicates the suspect took them at some point during the short time before or after he was shot in the head.
Surveillance video and witness statements showed no one else entered or left the room during the relevant time period before hotel staff discovered Miller.
Detectives identified the suspect as 42-year-old Rachel Perry-Mellen, also known as Rachel Laura Perry.
Police say she was linked through physical description, identification, phone number, home address and a vehicle matching the one seen at the hotel.
Later on Tuesday, detectives got a search warrant for her home and detained her there.
Investigators say they found the black Jeep Cherokee at the residence along with other evidence.
They also say they found multiple firearms that could potentially have been used in the shooting.
Police interviewed Perry and say she had no injuries and did not claim her life was ever in danger.
Investigators say she gave no explanation for shooting Miller and did not justify taking his phone, keys and wallet or leaving without calling police or helping him.
Police say there is probable cause that Perry shot Miller to death on Monday, stole his belongings, removed or concealed evidence and used a firearm to commit the crimes.
Perry is charged with second-degree murder, theft of property, tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of a firearm.
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