Tyler man sentenced to life in prison for murdering father

SMITH COUNTY – A Tyler man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his father in an argument over a dog.

According to a report from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Christopher Tilley entered a guilty plea on Tuesday morning in the 241st District Court for the shooting death of his father, Dell Howard Tilley, 79, on March 25th 2024. The arrest documents report that the father and son were fighting over the care of an injured dog.

During an interview at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Tilley told investigators that his father was upset over the way he was caring for a dog inside his father’s bedroom. During the argument, Dell Tilley allegedly came across the room, grabbed Christopher by the neck, and began choking him. The two men struggled on the ground before Christopher Tilley retrieved a firearm from his waistband, attesting that he thought he only fired once.

According to officers, Tilley’s recollection is inconsistent with their findings. Dell Tilley ultimately died from the gunshot wounds.

Court records show that a jury sentenced Christopher Tilley to life in prison. The verdict came two days after he elected to have a jury decide his punishment. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.

This article was originally published by The Tyler Morning Telegraph. To read the originally published article, click here.