In the quiet town of Watkinsville, Georgia, the life of 41-year-old Ashley Edmunds Schutza was brought to a tragic and violent end on December 28, 2021. That day, she and her life partner, Benjamin Smith, were found deceased in their home on Boldercrest Circle, having suffered from gunshot wounds. The grim discovery was made after one of two children present in the home at the time of the incident bravely called the police. The children were physically unharmed.
The ensuing investigation quickly identified a suspect close to home: Ashley's own son, Peyton Moyer, who was 20 years old at the time. Authorities believe Moyer shot his mother and stepfather before escaping the scene in one of the family's vehicles. His flight was short-lived, however, as he was soon located in the neighboring Athens-Clarke County. After a brief pursuit, Moyer was apprehended by local police, who successfully used a tire deflation device to halt the vehicle.
Following his arrest, Peyton Moyer was taken into custody and held at the Oconee County jail without bail. He faced serious charges, including two counts of malice murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and cruelty to children. In November 2023, Moyer pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. The court subsequently sentenced the now 21-year-old to life in prison for the murders of his mother and stepfather. Should he ever be released, he will be subject to an additional 15 years of home confinement. The case has drawn further attention due to claims from Moyer's father that his son's mental health and the side effects of a prescribed antipsychotic medication were not adequately considered during the legal proceedings.
