In the quiet town of Alexander City, Alabama, the lives of a mother and son were tragically cut short in a devastating act of violence. On December 1, 2020, 40-year-old Stephanie Nichole Dennis Motes and her 18-year-old son, Cody Lane Motes, were found fatally shot inside their home. The grim discovery sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends and family to grapple with the sudden and profound loss.
Stephanie was a mother who was now gone, and her teenage son, Cody, who enjoyed gaming, making YouTube videos, fishing, and exploring the woods, had his future stolen from him.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed to a suspect who was close to the family. Authorities identified 24-year-old Ashley Paul Kenney, who resided at the same residence as Stephanie and Cody, as the primary person of interest. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Kenney fled the scene, sparking a four-day manhunt that put the local community on edge. Law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly, following leads and searching for the fugitive. The search for Kenney concluded on December 5, 2020, when he was apprehended in Our Town, located in Tallapoosa County.
Following his capture, Ashley Paul Kenney was arrested and faced the full weight of the justice system. He was subsequently charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Stephanie and Cody Motes. The motive behind the killings was not immediately made public, leaving a grieving community to wonder what could have led to such a tragic outcome. The loss of a mother and her young son in such a violent manner left a lasting scar on Alexander City, serving as a somber reminder of the fragility of life.
