On Christmas Eve, a shocking double murder took place as two young women. Kayden Lynch and Madison Daly, teen stepsisters ages 18 and 19, were found dead in their home in Beulah, Alabama. Following the reported shooting of the girls, an 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and is facing five charges, including capital murder. Jalen Dashawn Holmes has been identified as the alleged shooter and is in custody. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones reported Holmes was a neighbor to the stepsisters. Holmes is being held without bail in the Lee County Jail while he waits for his arraignment hearing in the double murder case.
Double Murder in a Small Town
The heartbreaking tragedy occurred just before 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The local Lee County police responded to a shooting at Lee Road 2113 in Beulah. When they arrived, they found 19-year-old Lynch and 18-year-old Daly unresponsive with gunshot wounds. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton pronounced the young women dead at the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. According to Daly’s mother, the victims of the double murder were stepsisters and roommates. Their families are understandably devastated, and they, along with their community, are slowly recovering.
Madison Daly leaves behind a little one, her daughter Neveah. The locals of Belulah are distraught. They do not understand how something of this nature could happen in their quaint small town, especially during what is supposed to be a magical time spent with loved ones. Tyler Daly, a family member of Madison, has organized a GoFundMe to raise enough money to cover “end-of-life” costs. He wrote on the fundraiser, “If you feel it in your heart to donate, I deeply appreciate the help in this nightmarish time.” Community members and fellow outsiders have graciously donated enough over the original goal amount of $5,000, but the more, the merrier.
Community Reaction
A Belulah resident, Sean Magdelno, explained to the local media outlet WSFA12 that the town of Belulah is calm and has a close-knit community. In response to the double murder, he said, “I hope it brings people together instead of pushing everyone apart or making everyone cautious to lock your doors.” He continued, “People are going to be more leery to be friendly to your neighbor. You don’t need it like that; we want everyone to get along and to have a good time.”
It is hard to grasp an incident of this degree, and there is no step-by-step guide on how to deal with such a tragic loss. There is also no timeline for the grieving and healing process. The community is right to worry about how this incident will affect the future of their town and how community members engage with one another. However, it can also make it stronger, especially after people have had enough time to process it and remember to take care of themselves. They can all come together to support one another during this difficult time.
Final Thoughts
The teen’s bodies are being transported for postmortem examination at the ADFS Montgomery Medical. The investigation is ongoing, and the motive to commit the double murder is still unknown. Police reported that Holmes allegedly assaulted his mother at her nearby residence and took a handgun before leaving. When he left his mother’s home, he entered the neighboring residence, which Lynch and Daly inhabited. Witnesses reported hearing gunshot sounds shortly after. Before the double murder occurred, there were two 9-year-old twin girls at the residence as well, but thankfully, they left just before tragedy struck.
Alabama is one of the 22 states that actively have the death penalty. If Holmes is officially charged with capital murder and is found guilty, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. In cases of capital murder, there are two separate trial phases that the defendant must go through. The first phase is to determine whether the defendant is found guilty or not guilty by a jury of their peers. If found guilty, the second phase will ensue, which is a separate trial to determine whether they will be given the death penalty for their crime. It could be up to the jury or the judge, depending on the nature of the crime.
The Sheriff’s Office has urged anyone with information regarding the double murder to contact their Investigations Division at 334-737-7155 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
