In the quiet community of Winchester, Kentucky, the life of 35-year-old Ava Shayne Alan Brantley was brought to a tragic and violent end on Friday, October 17, 2025. A truck and bus driver known for her strong work ethic and free spirit, Ava was a mother to four children. Her life, however, was overshadowed by a history of domestic violence that ultimately led to her untimely death.
The man identified as responsible for her death was her 38-year-old ex-boyfriend, Tyler Snowden of Irvine,
Kentucky. In the days leading up to the fatal incident, Brantley had taken legal steps to protect herself, fearing for her safety. She had recently filed for a domestic violence order against Snowden, an action that tragically did not prevent the violence that would follow. Just one day before her death, a court had granted her a three-year restraining order against him. The court documents detailed a history of violence, including allegations that Snowden had previously pointed a gun at her head, vandalized her car, and destroyed her property.
In the early morning hours of October 17th, investigators believe Snowden forcibly entered Brantley's home on Westside Drive by breaking a back window while she was sleeping. It was there that he shot and killed her before taking his own life. The grim discovery was made later that evening when Brantley's mother, unable to reach her throughout the day, went to the home and found them. Authorities were alerted to the scene around 6:30 p.m. Evidence from a neighbor's doorbell camera captured the sound of a gunshot around 5 a.m. that morning.
The investigation revealed a disturbing history of domestic violence not only against Brantley but also involving a previous girlfriend of Snowden's. Court records showed that just a month prior to the murder-suicide, Snowden had been sentenced for an incident where he attempted to run over another woman with his truck. Despite being sentenced to seven years in prison for that offense, he was granted a two-year diversion, a decision that left him out of jail and tragically free to perpetrate the final act of violence against Ava Brantley. A suicide note was later found at Snowden's residence.
