Chernika Ramsey takes plea deal in Bianca Horton murder case

The mother of a convicted murderer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the 2016 gang killing.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Chernika Ramsey, the mother of a convicted murderer, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of solicitation to commit witness tampering in relation to the 2016 gang murder of Bianca Horton in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prosecutors say they had evidence that Ramsey conspired with members of the Athens Park Bloods gang, including her son's co-defendant Andre Grier, to kill Horton to prevent her from testifying in a previous case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex web of gang violence and the ways in which family members can become entangled in these crimes. Prosecutors say Ramsey's actions were an attempt to protect her son, who was previously convicted of killing another woman and paralyzing Horton's daughter.

The details

Ramsey had originally been charged with facilitation to commit first degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping in Horton's death. However, under the plea deal, those charges were dropped, and she pleaded guilty to the lesser misdemeanor charge of solicitation to commit witness tampering. She was sentenced to one year of probation.

  • Bianca Horton was killed in Chattanooga in 2016.
  • Chernika Ramsey's son, Cortez Sims, was previously convicted of killing Talitha Bowman and paralyzing Horton's daughter Zoey in a shooting.
  • Andre Grier was recently convicted of Bianca Horton's murder, as prosecutors say his gang, the Athens Park Bloods, killed her to prevent her from testifying in the previous case involving Ramsey's son.
  • Chernika Ramsey pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge on February 27, 2026.

The players

Chernika Ramsey

The mother of a convicted murderer who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the 2016 gang murder of Bianca Horton.

Andre Grier

A member of the Athens Park Bloods gang who was recently convicted of Bianca Horton's murder, as prosecutors say his gang killed her to prevent her from testifying in a previous case.

Cortez Sims

The son of Chernika Ramsey who was previously convicted of killing Talitha Bowman and paralyzing Horton's daughter Zoey in a shooting.

Bianca Horton

The victim of the 2016 gang murder in Chattanooga.

Collin Campbell

The prosecutor who also prosecuted Andre Grier and presented evidence that Chernika Ramsey conspired with Grier and another Athens Park Blood member to kill Horton.

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What they’re saying

“You can audibly hear a phone call where Ms. Ramsey asks Mr. Grier, 'What are you going to do to free your little homie?' In which the homie stands in for her son.”

— Collin Campbell, Prosecutor (wdef.com)

What’s next

The judge's decision on Chernika Ramsey's one-year probation sentence will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how the justice system handles cases where family members are accused of aiding in gang-related crimes.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex web of gang violence and the ways in which family members can become entangled in these crimes. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in addressing the root causes of gang activity and protecting vulnerable witnesses.