Two Alabama teenagers, who were also stepsisters, were tragically found shot to death in their home in Beulah, a small community in Lee County. The heartbreaking incident occurred on Christmas Eve, and an 18-year-old neighbor has been arrested and charged with their murders.
Kayden Lynch, 19, and Madison Daly, 18, were discovered unresponsive in their home on the afternoon of December 24. Both had suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities arrived shortly after receiving 911 calls reporting gunfire in the neighborhood at around 3:48 p.m.
When deputies arrived, they found Jalen Dashawn Holmes, an 18-year-old neighbor, at the scene. He was immediately taken into custody and has been held at the Lee County Jail ever since.
Lynch and Daly were not just stepsisters but also roommates. Madison Daly was a young mother with a toddler, though it’s unclear if the child was present during the shooting. However, authorities noted that two 9-year-old twin girls, who were known to be in the house earlier, had left before the incident. The twins’ relationship with the victims hasn’t been clarified yet.
Authorities say the chain of events began when Holmes allegedly got into a violent altercation with his own mother at their home. Following that, he went next door to the home of Lynch and Daly, armed with a handgun. What led to the violence is still under investigation, but the events have shaken the close-knit community.
A friend of the victims, Anna Miller, shared that Lynch had known Holmes and was even romantically interested in him. “She was in love with him,” Miller said, adding that no one ever expected Holmes to commit such a horrific act.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was created by a member of Daly’s family to help cover funeral expenses for both stepsisters. The relative expressed their gratitude for the community’s support, writing, “If you feel it in your heart to donate, I deeply appreciate the help in this nightmarish time.” So far, the fundraiser has raised over $4,800, just shy of its $5,000 goal.
Holmes has been charged with capital murder for the deaths of both girls. Investigators are continuing to piece together what led to this devastating loss of life, as the Beulah community mourns the tragic loss of two young lives.
