On February 6, 2024, 14-year-old white male Koda Bryson Jarrett and his 39-year-old white mother, Alisha Brooke Carnefix, were tragically shot and killed in their home on Sapphire Road in St. Albans, West Virginia. Koda, an eighth-grade student at Winfield Middle School, was known for his participation in the school's chorus and band, his love for gaming with friends, and his close bond with his family. His mother, Brooke, was a dedicated respiratory therapist, remembered for her compassionate care and uplifting spirit.
The following day, Markus Deron Guy, a 31-year-old man from Charleston and the boyfriend of Koda's sister, Shelby Frazier, voluntarily turned himself in at the Charleston Police Department. He confessed to killing both Koda and Brooke, stating they were his girlfriend's relatives. Law enforcement officers discovered the victims with fatal gunshot wounds, each having been shot twice in the head.
Guy was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence indicating that Guy had driven from a hotel in South Charleston to the victims' home, where he committed the murders. Physical evidence, including gunshot residue on Guy's hands and the victims' blood on his clothing, corroborated the prosecution's case. Guy's defense claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging that Brooke attacked him and that Koda intervened, leading to the shootings. However, the jury found Guy guilty of first-degree murder for Koda's death and second-degree murder for Brooke's death.
On April 23, 2025, Guy was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years for the first-degree murder of Koda, 40 years for the second-degree murder of Brooke, and up to 10 years for the firearm charge, with all sentences to be served consecutively. During sentencing, emotional statements from family members highlighted the profound loss and grief caused by the murders. Guy expressed remorse, stating he never intended to harm anyone and wished the incident had never occurred.
