Who Is Russell Tillis? Wikipedia, Murder, Girlfriend, Sentenced

Russell Tillis was regularly in the news from 2016 to 2021, while he was having trial for the rape and murder of Joni Lynn Gunter and for dismembering her body. Moreover, his troubled childhood held him away from the death penalty to two life sentences. Currently, he is making headlines after his story was covered in Investigation Discovery’s Evil Lives Here: He Had a Torture Chamber.

Russell Tillis Wikipedia Details

Who Is Russell Tillis? Biography & Parents Details

Russell Tillis is a convicted murderer who was found guilty of beating Joni Lynn Gunter to death before dismembering her and burying her in his property. Moreover, he was later charged with murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and abuse of a dead human body.  He was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury on 29 April 2021. Meanwhile, he was sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences. At the same time, Russell Tillis doesn't have a Wikipedia page.

Russell Tillis was born Russell David Tillis to his father, Claude Tillis, and his mother,  whose name isn't available in the public media, in Florida, USA. As per records, his father was an alcoholic who used to rape Rusell's mother. Records even show that hsi mother did whatever she could to keep him away from his father and help him move out of his father's trailer. At the same time, Russell Tillis grew up along with his brother, Claude Tillis Jr, who was also abused by his father.

Russell Tillis enjoys celebrating his birthday on 22 April every year with his family and friends. Moreover, he was born on 22 April 1961, which makes him 62 years old as of 2023. Looking at his date of birth, Russell Tillis has Taurus as his zodiac or birth sign. Meanwhile, as he was born in Florida, USA, he holds American nationality. At the same time, Russell Tillis comes from a family of white ethnic background and follows Christianity as his religion.

Talking about his educational background, there isn't much information regrading his educational journey. Furthermore, as Russell Tillis had a troubled childhood, he at most is a high school garduate. At the age of 62, he lookd fit and fine in his height of 5 feet and 9 inches with a decent weight of around 70 Kg.

Russell Tillis Married Life

There is no information regrading Russell Tillis' married life and no hard evidence to support if he was ever married. However, he used to date his girlfriend named Shannon Brinkley when he was just 20 and his ex-girlfriend was just 16. They had a child together, Nathan Russell Tillis, when his ex-girlfriend was just 17 years old. Moreover, it seems that his drug problem was the issue for their separation.

As per records, his son went down a path of drugs at 12-years-old. His son is a welder in Washington State and is now sober after going through a recovery program. Both his son and ex-girlfriend were there as his testimony.

Russell Tillis Criminal History

Russell Tillis started selling drugs when he was just over 20 years old. As per records, he had regular issues with his neighbors. Talking about it in numbers, his neighbors had called the authorities with concerns about him more than 80 times in four years. In 2012, he face charges of sexual battery and sodomy involving an alleged assault on a sex worker, which was eventually dropped.

Prior to that, Russell Tillis received a five-year sentence for child abuse and lewd or lascivious battery in 2006. In 2015, he was charged with multiple counts, including aggravated assault, battery of a law enforcement officer, and making threats.  Currently, he is serving his 2 consecutive life sentences.