State and Federal General, Belle Meade, Forest Hills, and Goodlettsville Municipal Election results for Davidson County.
The second of two unidentified women found murdered in the basement of a Charlotte Avenue home nearly 40 years ago has now been identified through forensic genetic genealogy as Toni L. Gordon of Nashville, who was 31 when she was killed.
Gordon and Sheila Cummings, 23, (who was identified in 2025) were murdered by James Shaffer, who confessed to the killings after they were discovered in 1987 in shallow graves within the dirt floor basement of a home he had rented. It is believed the homicides took place two years earlier. Shaffer had referred to Gordon as Lil’ Bit.
Family members believed that Gordon moved out of state and lost contact with them. They have been notified of the identification.
Shaffer received two life sentences for the murders. He died in prison in 2004.
The MNPD is grateful to DNA Investigative Solutions, Bode Technology, the National Missing & Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), the Medical Examiner’s Office and the TBI for collaborating with us to identify the victims.
