Salena was reported missing by her husband, Tyrone N. Tackett, on January 30, 2003. They lived in the 100 block of Secretariat Place in the Bluegrass Downs subdivision of Hendersonville, Tennessee, and had been married only one week. A photo of Tyrone is posted below this case summary. He said he fell asleep and when he woke up later that night, his wife was missing. She left her purse and car behind, but Tyrone says she took a large sum of money with her. Salena has never been seen or heard from again. Tyrone reported her missing the next day. The Tacketts had a two-year-old daughter together who lived with them, and Salena had an eight-year-old son who lived elsewhere.

Salena's best friend described her as a dedicated mother and stated that whenever she would leave her daughter with a babysitter, she would call several times to make sure everything was going well. She doesn't believe Salena would have abandoned her children. Both Tyrone and Salena are originally from Kentucky. Neighbors of the couple said they had a troubled relationship and often fought. Tyrone had canceled their engagement twice before he finally married her. After her disappearance, two anonymous letters were sent to investigators insinuating that the author may have information on Salena's disappearance and that foul play may be involved in her case. The individual did not contact authorities again and has never been identified. Salena's family says she was afraid for her life in the days before she vanished, but she did not tell them why.

Tyrone sold their home and moved to Florida with their daughter long after Salena's disappearance. In July 2011, he was arrested for solicitation to commit murder; he allegedly hired someone to kill Salena. He was extradited to Tennessee and jailed to await trial. If convicted, he faces eight to twelve years in prison.

One of Tyrone's relatives, Brian Tackett, filed a lawsuit against him in Mississippi in 2004. It was dismissed in 2005 due to procedural issues. In the court documents, Brian alleged Tyrone had stolen construction equipment from him over a period of years, and that Salena knew about the theft because she was Tyrone's bookkeeper. According to Brian, Salena told others about the thefts and Tyrone attempted to discredit her by claiming she was a drug addict. He later hired someone to kill her and make it look like a robbery. When this plan fell through, Brian alleges, Tyrone killed Salena himself.

In December 2011, while the solicitation charge was still pending, Tyrone was charged with first-degree murder in Salena's case. Authorities stated they'd uncovered new evidence that proves he killed his wie, although her body has not been found. He faces a sentence of life in prison if convicted. Tyrone is awaiting trial.

Salena's son lives in Kentucky, and her mother has since died. Foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.

Above: Tyrone Tackett in 2011