CORDOVA, Tenn. – A mother is still searching for justice three years after her son’s murder.

In January 2023, Cordarius Smith was shot and killed at a Cordova apartment complex. 

Since then, no arrests have been made, and the case has grown cold.

The 19-year-old’s mother, Tiffany Roper, said this time of the year is especially hard, as this Thursday will mark three years exactly since her son’s death.

Roper said she wants the closure she has been searching for these past few years.

“I never went to the scene. I can’t even ride down the street,” Roper said.

Police said Smith was shot and killed on Pristine Loop at the Villas apartment complex.

Going into 2026, without her son or an arrest, Roper said the only thing that’s new is that she spoke with another detective on her son’s case. Even speaking to the detective, she said she heard nothing new. In general, she said contact with MPD has been minimal.

“All of the reaching out that’s been going on is me. I’ve been reaching out. I mean, I have been going down there,” Roper said.

According to the police report, the incident was drug-related. Smith’s mother said this is not the case at all. She said there was some sort of drug paraphernalia at the scene, but it had nothing to do with her son.

“I feel that there were those objects — those items,” Roper said. “Possessions was put near my son to make it seem like it’s a drug deal gone wrong.”

Roper said she got the call three hours after police were called to the scene and her son had been found dead. Police said one other person was also injured in the shooting and survived.

“They’re not doing anything,” Roper said. “Nothing is being done. Nothing.”

Roper said she feels left in the dark and doesn’t know where to go from here. She remembers saying goodbye to her son the day before, not knowing that would be the last time she’d speak to him.

“Early that Saturday morning, he was leaving, getting ready to leave. He said he started a job on Trinity at Wendy’s. And, you know, I watched him at the window going to the garbage can because he took the garbage out. And that was the last that I heard from him,” Roper said.