Woman jailed on $1M bond, daughter held without bail in death of family matriarch

Briar Lynn Aven, left, and Tara Lynn Aven were arrested in April 2019, accused of murdering the family matriarch, leaving her body in the home on the 600 block of Country Club Drive for 18 months and cashing her checks afterward. Tara has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison; Briar's next court date is in December 2020. (Prescott PD/Courtesy)

Briar Lynn Aven, left, and Tara Lynn Aven were arrested in April 2019, accused of murdering the family matriarch, leaving her body in the home on the 600 block of Country Club Drive for 18 months and cashing her checks afterward. Tara has been sentenced to 17 years in state prison; Briar's next court date is in December 2020. (Prescott PD/Courtesy)

The two Prescott women suspected of killing their family matriarch in her Country Club Drive home have been officially charged with the crime and bond amounts have been set.

Tara Aven, 46, is being held at the Yavapai County jail on a $1 million cash-only bond, while her daughter, 24-year-old Briar Aven, is being held without bail.

Prescott police arrested the two women Tuesday morning, April 9, after a body was found in a home on their family’s property. Both admitted to killing 77-year-old Sandra Aven in late 2017 and then cashing numerous monthly payment checks made out to her.

Tara and Briar Aven are facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder, tampering with physical evidence and fraudulent schemes (all felonies), according to the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office. Tara is also being charged with failure to appear in the second degree (a misdemeanor).

Public defenders have been appointed for the women, who have scheduled court appearances next week.

Follow Max Efrein on Twitter @mefrein, email him at mefrein@prescottaz.com or call him at 928-445-3333 ext. 1105.


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