In the summer of 2015, a horrific scene unfolded in the quiet community of McCalla, Alabama, forever altering the lives of a local family. Doris Jean Hutcheson, a 49-year-old woman, was found deceased in her home on June 28th of that year. Alongside her were her two children, 14-year-old Kimberly and 12-year-old Peyton. The discovery was made after a concerned relative requested a welfare check over the weekend.
All three family members had been fatally shot in what authorities described as a violent crime scene.
Investigators quickly identified Doris's husband, 47-year-old Stephen Sean Hutcheson, as the primary suspect. Evidence suggested that the murders took place on the evening of Friday, June 26th. In an attempt to mislead the family, Stephen allegedly sent a text message from his wife's phone to her sister, falsely claiming she was going to the beach for a few days. Following the brutal slayings, it is believed that Stephen spent the weekend with his girlfriend at a motel, where they reportedly used cocaine. His girlfriend later cooperated with the investigation and was not considered a suspect in the shootings.
Authorities issued a warrant for Stephen Hutcheson's arrest on four counts of capital murder, one for each victim and an additional charge for his son, Peyton, who was under the age of 14. Investigators believed that Peyton may have been awake and witnessed his father's actions before he was killed. A national alert was issued for Stephen, who was considered armed and dangerous. The search for the suspected killer came to a somber end when his vehicle was discovered in a wooded area near Adger. Inside, authorities found a man believed to be Stephen Hutcheson, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials stated that it appeared he had been deceased for several days, bringing a tragic conclusion to the devastating case that had shaken the community to its core.
