CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Judge Jill Ayers sentenced a man to serve two consecutive life sentences without parole for stabbing his ex-girlfriend and unborn child to death.
Quentin Bird murdered 20-year-old Allison Tenbarge, who was 9-months pregnant with their son, Parker. On April 18, 2017, Clarksville Police found Tenbarge deceased inside of the townhouse they had shared. She had been stabbed 15 to 30 times and the baby suffered at least two stab wounds to his body.
In February, Bird was found guilty of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder following a three day jury. The jury decided he would serve life without parole. On Wednesday, June 3, Judge Ayers had to decide whether he’d serve both sentences at the same time or separately.
Stolen dreams
The state represented by Robert Nash, assistant district attorney called one witness, Tenbarge’s mother, Jamie Carlson, who read a statement to the judge.
“…Allison had the biggest heart. She was the kindest, sweetest person I ever met. She felt everything 100 percent and she gave 100 percent to all her relationships. I feel that’s important because how could someone who loved so outwardly end up on the recieving end of such cruelty? …. She fell in love with a man who belittled her, took her confidence, and alienated her from her family and friends.”
Carlson spoke about the dreams her family had of welcoming her grandson Parker and getting to see her daughter be a great mother as she’d shown during her pregnancy. All of it was stolen from them when Bird murdered them.
“I did get to see Baby Parker once,” Carlson said. “Before they placed him in his mothers arms in her casket. He was beautiful… but he was cold.”
Carlson spoke about how Allison’s and Parkers death had changed everyone in their family
“This grief is unimaginable for someone who’s lost a child to murder,” Carlson said. “I wish I could go back and make it where she never met him.”
Allison and Parker will live on through the scholarship and foundation in their name for domestic violence survivors.
She asked for Ayers to give him the maximum sentence possible.
“‘I’m beyond sorry.”
Bird never testified at his trial and for the first time he addressed the court.
“…I never in a million years think I’d end up in the situation I’m in today,” he said. “Sorry is not enough to say to Allison’s family. I understand the hate they feel toward me. If I could take it back I would. I can’t explain everything, but there’s not a day I haven’t thought about Allison and Parker during my incarceration. …I want to say I’m beyond sorry for what happened. Alll I can do is move on with my life. Like I said, “I’m beyond sorry.”
The state asked for the consecutive sentencing to show two separate and distinct murders. Poland Reid, Bird’s attorney, said Bird only had one life to give and would die in prison, and didn’t have a second life to give to serve the sentence.
Judge Ayers found him to be a dangerous offender and said the premeditation, lies and intentional deception used in committing such a heinous murder led her to her decision.
“This case will stay with us all for a long time,” she concluded.
For Trial coverage read the following articles:
Day 1- Quentin Bird trial begins, state describes ex-boyfriend stabbed pregnant woman 21 times
Day 3- Bird guilty of premeditated murder of pregnant ex-girlfriend, unborn son