Life seemed to be going well for Darron Smith. In 2014, Smith was well into his second year as an  assistant professor at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, which had recruited him to a tenure track position.

“I was recruited here and thought this was going to be a great place for me to be. I was coming home to my own state,” said Smith.

Smith and fiancée Tasha Sabino were discussing marriage.

“We think we’re moving toward growing our family and this comes and hits us,” Sabino said.