Alabama Woman Allegedly Dropped Dead Ex-Husband off at Hospital

Genesis Patricia Tanksley of Mobile, Alabama, is accused of killing her estranged husband, Lazarus Tanksley, before taking him to a hospital on New Year's Eve. According to a news release from the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, Genesis, 27, was arrested and taken to the Mobile Metro Jail after investigators from the Mobile Police Department responded to a hospital around 1 a.m. following reports of a man being dropped off who was already dead.

Witness Statements

Witnesses told MCSO deputies, who had taken over the investigation, that they had seen a woman driving a silver Lexus SUV who dropped the victim off. They described the woman as having braided hair with red tips, and one of the witnesses identified her as Genesis, the news release said. "The witness stated that she traveled to the victim's residence with (Genesis)," the release said, according to WKRG. "She stated Genesis and the victim were arguing and then she heard a gunshot. She fled the scene on foot and has not seen or spoken to Genesis since the shooting."

'Mystery Man'

The father of two was at a friend's house celebrating on Dec. 31, 2024, when Genesis allegedly showed up. She is said to have shot her husband after an argument. Genesis said that she was wrongly accused and that a mystery man had shot her husband, describing the person as around 5-foot-8 with a darker complexion, according to the Daily Mail. She remembered the stranger tried to get into the back seat of her car, asking for a ride. She claimed Lazarus opened the door of the car and the stranger's gun went off.

Genesis said she knew right away that her husband was dead, adding that he was "already shaking" and she could "see his soul leaving his body," as reported by The Daily Mail. Witnesses then helped put her husband's body in the back of her car to drive him to the hospital, where she says she left him.

Returned to the Scene

Genesis said she then drove back to the scene before going to her father, Andre Carstarphen's house, to tell him what happened. Carstarphen said he "immediately shut down" when his daughter told him the news, as reported by The Daily Mail, explaining learning of his son-in-law's death was too overwhelming for him to handle. Carstarphen remembered knowing right away that his daughter would be accused.

Maintaining Innocence

Genesis strongly insisted she was telling the truth. She said she wanted justice for the killing and that she didn't have "what it takes to kill anyone let alone her husband," who was "the love of her life," as reported by The Daily Mail. The couple has two young children, one of whom is only a few months old.

Case Headed to Grand Jury

On Jan. 16, 2025, a judge found probable cause to charge Genesis Tanksley the murder of Lazarus Tanksley and sent the case to a grand jury.

She currently remains in Metro Jail on a $150,000 bond. This investigation is ongoing.

References: Mobile Woman Arrested After Allegedly Dropping Dead Ex-Husband Off at Hospital: MCSO | 'Murderess' Slammed for Brazen Jailhouse Interview After Husband Died | 'She is just a terrible person': Murder victim's friends react to accused killer’s exclusive interview | Case heads to grand jury after judge finds probable cause in deadly New Years Day shooting