A Christiana man accused of killing his neighbor in 2022 has been sentenced to prison until he turns 73. The incident occurred on July 6, 2022, when a 9-1-1 call alerted Rutherford County Sheriff’s Deputies to a home on Panther Creek Road in Southern Rutherford County. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the body of 58-year-old Rowden, leading to an immediate investigation.
Burris, the neighbor of the victim, remained at the scene until deputies arrived and was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The case was presented to a Grand Jury and initially scheduled for trial in April 2025. However, Burris eventually pleaded guilty to the charges.
Burris, now 57 years old, is currently incarcerated at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, Tennessee, a prison that houses a mix of maximum, medium, and minimum-security inmates. His sentence will last until 2041, with credit for time served from the date of his arrest, which coincided with Rowden’s death.
