Death Over Divorce: Takeisha Eads

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: A devoted mother. A beloved teacher. A pillar of her community. When Takeshia Eads filed for divorce from her husband, she was trying to reclaim her peace. But just weeks later, she was found clinging to life on her bathroom floor—with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities say the man she was trying to escape pulled the trigger. What happened in the moments leading up to her death? If you or someone you know is experiencing domistic violence, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.  

This is the story of Takeisha Eads. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
discussing the story of a woman who devoted her life
to others, her children, her grandchildren, her faith, and her community.

(00:23):
But in March twenty twenty five, that life was suddenly
and brutally taken, and police say it was at the
hands of someone very close to her. The worst part,
she tried to get away. This is the story of
Takeisha Eads. Takeisha renee Ds was forty two years old,

(00:48):
a lifelong Floridian and a staple in the Orlo Vista community,
which is an area just west of Orlando. She worked
as a teacher in performing arts director at Saints Academy
private school. She was very active in the community. She
led praise dance at her church, even helping with outreach

(01:11):
and disaster relief. Friends called her a jewel, someone who
gave more than she ever took. Takeisha was the mother
of four, a grandmother of five, and she was married
to a forty one year old man named Lamar Antonio
Bryant for over a decade. But recently something had shifted

(01:34):
in their relationship. Takeisha had filed for divorce, and according
to family members, Bryant wouldn't sign the papers. March twenty fifth,
twenty twenty five, around three forty five pm, a disturbing
nine to one one call came into the Orange County

(01:54):
Sheriff's office a woman believed to be Takeisha's mother and said,
my son in law shot my daughter. When deputies arrived
to the home on Dutton Street, they found Takeisha lying
on the bathroom floor with a gunshot wound to the head.
She was clinging on to life and was rushed to

(02:18):
the hospital, but unfortunately she didn't make it. According to
court documents, the shooting wasn't spontaneous, it was premeditated. In fact,
before returning home that day, Bryant had picked up one
of their children from school, and then he went to

(02:38):
a liquor store and then to a storage unit where
he allegedly kept multiple firearms. Neighbors reported hearing four to
five gunshots rapidly. One witness said it was like back
to back. Bryant allegedly fled the scene after that, but
it didn't take long for law enforcement to track him. Down.

(03:02):
He was found in Kassimi later that night, and he
was arrested without incident. Lamar Bryant would now face first
degree premeditated murder charges and be held without bond, But
this wasn't his first run in with the law. Lamar

(03:23):
was already on bond for a prior drug case, and
just weeks before the shooting in early March, he had
been arrested again on separate charges. Now he stands center
of a murder case and a family is left heartbroken.
In the aftermath of her death, Takesha's oldest daughter, Hordsa Paige,

(03:48):
spoke publicly. She said, even though I have so much
love around me, the one person that I want is
not here and I need her. Hordsia also had a
warning for other women and abusive relationships. If you're thinking

(04:09):
about leaving, it's not going to get better. Think about
your kids first, she said. A candlelight vigil was held
for Takeisha on Livingston Street. Friends, family, students, and neighbors
gathered to share memories and mourn. Candles were lit that

(04:32):
spelled out her name. Some held signs and others held
each other. Her church leaders called her a blessing, someone
who could walk into the room and lighted up. Ministry
Pastor rosalind Esan said, you just fell in love with

(04:53):
her spirit. Experts say the moment a woman decides to
leave her abuser is off in the most dangerous. The
CEO of Harbor House of Central Florida wide in saying
it's about power and control. When an abuser feels that
control is slipping, they escalate, and for Takeisha, that escalation

(05:18):
turned deadly. As the case moves through the courts, We'll
continue following for further developments, and if you or someone
you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National
Domestic Violence Hotline. You can find their number in the
description box below. As we close out this episode, don't

(05:43):
forget to click the follow button to stay updated on
this case and others like it. Be sure to subscribe
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you enjoyed this story, leave us a five star rating.
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode

(06:07):
Until next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
Black Effect Podcast network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts,

(06:30):
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.