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Tennessee father accused of killing daughter fails drug test while out on bond

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A Hendersonville father accused of shooting and killing his 11-year-old daughter as she came home from school has failed a drug test while out on bond.

Timothy Batts, 29, was released from the Sumner County jail Friday after a judge decided his $1 million bond was too high and lowered it to $500,000.

Officials will now file motions in court and Batts’ bond could be revoked.

Batts is accused of shooting and killing his daughter, Timea, as she came home from school on the afternoon of Aug. 8.

At the time of the shooting, he told officers his daughter entered the house and said she had been shot.

Once in custody, authorities said Batts changed his story and explained that he was asleep when Timea came home. He reportedly said she scared him, leading him to reach for his gun and fire.

However, during a court hearing last Friday, a detective testified that home security footage actually showed Batts awake and walking around with a gun in his hand just minutes before his daughter came home.

Batts has been charged with reckless homicide, tampering with evidence, false reporting, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.