Woman, 25, Allegedly Shot and Killed by Girlfriend: 'She Was Such a Light' By Charna Flam

A woman was allegedly shot and killed by her girlfriend in Nashville on Saturday, Jan. 3.

That morning, Gracey Adams, 25, was found dead in a bedroom in a Nashville home on Kingview Drive, the Nashville Police Department shared in a Jan. 3 news release. 

Adams’ girlfriend, Sarah Stacey, 29, was initially considered a “person of interest” in the shooting, police said. After a brief period at large, Stacey “implicated herself in the case during an interview with lead detective Cooper Gauldin,” per an update to the news release.

Stacey was located on Port Anadarko Trail and arrested on Sunday, Jan. 4, police said. She was charged with criminal homicide in connection with Adams’ death.

On Monday, Jan. 5, the victim’s mother, Amy McClure, recalled the moment she was informed about her daughter’s death.

“A chaplain called her father, and then he called me and told me. And I knew immediately who did it. My heart shattered,” McClure told local news outlet WSMV.

Speaking with the outlet, McClure said that, following a relapse earlier in 2025, Adams was sober on Christmas, and had just spent time with her family days ago.

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McClure recalled how the family’s celebration was “a gift from God.”

“She got to see her nieces and nephews. Her father came to town. We all had pictures together. We all played games and spent time together,” she said. McClure explained that’s what makes Adams’ death “so hard,” noting, “that was [it] just last week.” 

“But I’m just so glad that we got those happy memories. I’m so glad that we had that.”

Gracey’s stepfather, Chip McClure, told the outlet that Adams was “such a light.” 

“She touched so many people that her legacy and that light are going to burn forever,” Chip said. “I just know it in my heart.”

Her sister, Kathryn Nichole Adams, wrote a tribute on Facebook: “I love you more than words could ever express. The depth of love you carried—for everyone, and especially for your nieces and nephews—is something that will be felt through the test of time.” 

Adams’ family plans to create a foundation in her name, Gracey Kayla Hope, to help other families impacted by substance abuse.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.