In the quiet community of Pell City, Alabama, the evening of November 20, 2022, turned tragic for the family of Rebekah Poe, a 46-year-old woman. She and her husband discovered individuals breaking into their vehicle near their home on Skyline Trail. In an attempt to confront them, a vehicle struck and killed her, turning a car break-in into a homicide. The perpetrators fled the scene, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock. Poe was a wife and a mother to two daughters.
The Pell City Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation into the hit-and-run death. Early in the investigation, authorities described the suspects as a young white man and woman in their twenties, believed to be driving a dark-colored Dodge Charger. As the investigation progressed, a significant reward of $20,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
After more than a year of diligent police work, a breakthrough in the case came in February 2024. Investigators identified two suspects, Shawna Alyssa Masten, 31, and Christopher Cody Masters, 30. It was discovered that the pair had fled Alabama shortly after the incident and were located in the Denver, Colorado, area. On February 11, 2024, arrest warrants for felony murder were issued for both Masten and Masters.
In a coordinated effort between the Pell City Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and several Colorado law enforcement agencies, both suspects were taken into custody in Colorado. Both Masten and Masters had extensive criminal histories. Masters had been out of prison for less than five months before the death of Rebekah Poe, with prior arrests for burglary, theft, and drug charges. Masten also had a record that included fraud, drug charges, and theft. The two waived extradition and were set to face the murder charges in Alabama. In May 2024, Christopher Masters was denied bond, with his trial scheduled for November if no plea agreement is reached.
