Mourners honor slain Xenia teen
Tarver, 19, stabbed in backyard fight, was known as ‘a kind soul.’
A Xenia teenager whose life ended in a backyard fight last Saturday is being remembered by friends and family as a kind and musically talented young woman.
Tre’Ana Tarver, 19, was fatally stabbed the night of Nov. 3 in the backyard of the home of Xenia Councilman Edgar Wallace. Wallace’s granddaughter, 21-yearold Tova Wallace-Lee, is charged with murder.
Hundreds showed up for a candlelight vigil Thursday night and planned a balloon launch Friday evening on Central State University’s campus, where Tarver was studying chemistry.
The crowd Thursday night gathered in front of Tarver’s grandmother’s house in Xenia. Friends and family shared memories of the Xenia High School graduate. Her family said she could play eight musical instruments.
“We’ve got family, we’ve got friends ... gives us strength ... we know how loved she was,” said Tarver’s mother, Takeeshia Glass.
Glass said the outpouring of support has helped her get through the last several days, and it’s what she’ll need in the days to come without her daughter.
“It doesn’t make it OK, but it makes it cope-able,” Glass said.
Adara Tarrent called Tarver “a kind soul” and described her as her best friend. She said it was special to see so many people pay tribute at the candlelight vigil, which ended with a bal-
loon launch.
“It shows you in a time of need, the community is going to come together,” Tarrent said.
On the night of Nov. 3, Xenia police received multi- ple calls about a fight in the backyard of a councilman’s home on East Church Street.
When officers arrived, they found Tarver on the ground, stabbed. She was taken to Greene Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Wallace-Lee was arrested at the scene. Police said she was cooperative and was taken into custody without a struggle.
The following Monday, police announc e d Wallace-Lee was being charged with murder. She remains an inmate in the Greene County Jail on $200,000 bond.
Details have not been shared, but police said there was jealousy involved and the two had been feuding for a period of time through social media.
Wallace-Lee’s case has been transferred from Xenia Municipal Court to Greene Co u nty Common Pleas Court. The county prosecutor’s office is expected to present charges to a grand jury seeking an indictment.