In the quiet town of Watkinsville, Georgia, a tragedy unfolded in the early hours of December 28, 2021, forever altering the lives of a local family. Benjamin 'Benji' Watson Smith, a 54-year-old male, was found deceased in his home on Boldercrest Circle from apparent gunshot wounds. Alongside him was his wife, Ashley Schutza, who had also been fatally shot. The discovery was made by Oconee County sheriff's deputies just after midnight, following a distressing 911 call from one of two unharmed children who were also present in the residence at the time of the incident.
The investigation quickly identified a suspect, Peyton Moyer, Schutza's 20-year-old son and Smith's stepson. Authorities believed Moyer was responsible for the deaths of his mother and stepfather. Following the shootings, Moyer fled the scene in a family vehicle, prompting a search by law enforcement. He was located a short time later in the neighboring city of Athens. When Athens-Clarke County police attempted to apprehend him, Moyer led them on a brief pursuit which ended after officers successfully deployed a tire deflation device.
Peyton Moyer was taken into custody and subsequently charged with two counts of murder, one count of first-degree cruelty to children, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was held in the Oconee County jail without bail. The motive for the killings was not immediately clear to investigators. The presence of the two children in the home during the violent act added a particularly harrowing dimension to the case.
In November 2023, Peyton Moyer pleaded guilty to the charges against him. This plea spared the family the further trauma of a prolonged trial. Following his guilty plea, Moyer was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his mother, Ashley Schutza, and his stepfather, Benjamin Smith.
