For a fifth time, a Rutherford County woman convicted of first degree premeditated murder has been told that her fifth recently filed appeal has been denied. The most recent denial was handed down by the Tennessee Supreme Court this month (September 2014). The denial was confirmed in the courts by Judge John Everett Williams.

Mindy Sue Dodd was sentenced to life in prison plus 25-years after she took part in the 1999 murder of 46-year old Sherman Henry Dodd, her step father who lived in Smyrna. The murder came sometime after 32-year old Mindy Dodd was reportedly impregnated by Sherman Dodd, who was later her husband.

Mindy Sue Dodd talked Sherman Dodd's nephew, James Smallwood, into killing Sherman Dodd. In an interview, Smyrna Police Captain Todd Spearman told Assistant DA J. Paul Newman that Dodd groomed Smallwood prior to the murder...

Both Dodd and Smallwood had separate court cases. Both are behind bars now.

J. Paul Newman, the Assistant District Attorney of Rutherford County, discussed the case in this interview recorded on July 4, 2014 (18 min and 47 sec)...

In regards to the soda bottle as a silencer:

2003 Court records stated on page two: "Smallwood left the truck and retrieved a Fruitopia bottle from a box outside the house. He said the defendant had placed the bottle inside the box and had told him to use the bottle as a silencer and to use the box to dispose of everything else. Smallwood held the bottle against the victim's chest and shot through the bottle. He also wore rubber gloves which he said the defendant had given to him."

Life in prison - parole is in the future:

• Dodd will remain behind bars for the remainder of her life unless she is paroled in the future. Dodd is 46-years old today and will be 83 when she is eligible for parole.
• As for James Smallwood, he is 37-years old today and will be 74-years old when he is eligible for parole.

Source:

MINDY DODD v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
M2013-02385-SC-R11-ECN

Previous sources:

M2013-02385-CCA-R3-ECN - Filed April 22, 2014

2009 Supreme Court of TN Denial of Mindy Dodd Application

2007 Mindy Dodd Vs. State of TN

2003 State of TN Vs. Mindy S. Dodd