SHARE Tammy Lynn Talford, 56 (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A Knox County woman who killed her husband in a fit of rage over a text message pleaded guilty Monday.

Tammy Lynn Talford, 57, pleaded guilty before Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steve Sword to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. She had faced a second-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of husband, Lawrence "Leon" Talford, 52.

As part of a plea, Tammy Talford was sentenced to 15 years in prison and agreed to turn over the proceeds of life insurance she collected in her husband's death to his family. The punishment is at the top of the penalty range for voluntary manslaughter. Because Talford already had a criminal record, she must serve 45 percent of the 15-year term before she will be eligible for parole.

She initially reported to the Knoxville Police Department that the April 2015 shooting at the couple's home at 2715 White Oak Lane in the Whittle Springs area was accidental, according to prior testimony in a preliminary hearing in the case.

KPD Investigator Chas Terry's testified that Tammy Talford told arriving officers that she and her husband were passing a .38-caliber handgun back and forth, and then gun discharged.

Her husband had suffered a gunshot wound to his upper chest.

Leon Talford later died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Under interrogation, however, Tammy Talford admitted she and her husband were arguing over a text message he sent to another woman. Her husband concluded the text with the words, "I love you," according to Terry's prior testimony.

Tammy Talford told the police investigator she retrieved the gun from a night stand drawer and wound up shooting her husband.

In court Monday, she continued to insist she did not intend to kill her husband.

Members of Leon Talford's family have disputed the woman's claims that he was texting another woman.