In a quiet home in McCalla, Alabama, the lives of a family were tragically cut short in June of 2015. Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Hutcheson, a female, her 49-year-old mother, Doris Hutcheson, and her 12-year-old brother, Peyton Hutcheson, were found deceased in their family residence. The discovery was made after a concerned relative requested a welfare check over the weekend.
Responding authorities entered a grim and violent scene where all three family members had been fatally shot.
Investigators quickly identified the husband and father, 47-year-old Stephen Sean Hutcheson, as the primary suspect. Evidence suggested that the murders likely occurred on a Friday night, after which Stephen Hutcheson allegedly spent the weekend with his girlfriend in a motel, where they were said to have used cocaine. In an apparent attempt to mislead the family, investigators believe Stephen sent a text message from his wife's phone, suggesting she was going to the beach for a few days. The crime scene indicated that young Peyton may have been awake and witnessed the horrific events before he was also killed.
Stephen Sean Hutcheson was charged with four counts of capital murder, one for each victim and an additional charge for Peyton being under the age of 14. A national alert was issued for his arrest, and he was considered armed and dangerous. Authorities believed his financial situation might keep him in the local area. His girlfriend cooperated with the investigation and was not considered a suspect in the shootings.
The search for Stephen Hutcheson came to a somber end when his vehicle was found in a wooded area near Adger. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered a body believed to be that of Stephen Hutcheson, who had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was estimated that he had been deceased for several days. The tragic conclusion to the manhunt meant that the man responsible for the deaths of his wife and two children would not face a trial, taking the answers to his motives with him.
