In a quiet Clarksville, Tennessee home, a devastating story of domestic violence unfolded, ending the lives of a young mother and her two small children. Keara Wynn Hazel, a 23-year-old female, was a doting mother who, along with her 3-year-old son Kayden and 9-month-old daughter Jaylynn, was tragically killed on September 14, 2017. Her life, full of love for her children, was cut short by the very person who should have been their protector.
The day of the murders, neighbors reported hearing screams coming from the Hazel residence. When Clarksville police arrived shortly before 11 a.m., they discovered a horrific scene. Keara, Kayden, and Jaylynn were all found deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The suspect, Keara's 27-year-old husband and the children's father, Jordan M. Hazel, was found outside the house and taken into custody. During the subsequent investigation, he admitted to the murders.
The investigation revealed a chilling sequence of events. Jordan Hazel had shot his wife with a shotgun and then left the home, leaving his children with their deceased mother. He later returned and shot both of his children. Kayden was shot in the head, and baby Jaylynn was shot in the face as she lay in her playpen. Afterward, he took a shower and went to bed. It was determined that the murders were premeditated, with the motive being his desire to start a new life. A history of domestic violence against Keara by her husband was also noted.
Jordan Hazel was charged with three counts of first-degree premeditated murder. After a competency hearing in which he was found fit to stand trial, he entered a surprise guilty plea on August 18, 2020. He was sentenced to two life sentences, with the possibility of parole after serving 110 years. The tragic end to Keara's life, and those of her innocent children, left a deep wound in the community and served as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
