In October 2023, 45-year-old Alysia Darice Scott was found deceased in her home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, a discovery that initiated a thorough homicide investigation. Initially, her death was deemed suspicious by the Gwinnett County medical examiner after firefighters responded to a medical call and found her. The investigation soon focused on her live-in boyfriend and business partner, 50-year-old Kevin Matchen.
Matchen told police that he and Scott had a pleasant evening before he
left to retrieve some tools for their landscaping business and meet a friend at a hotel. He claimed that upon his return around 4 a.m., he found the garage door open and discovered Scott unresponsive on the couch. He then took Scott's young grandchild, who had been asleep upstairs throughout the incident, to a neighbor's house and reported her death. However, his account of a peaceful night was contradicted by neighbors who reported hearing the couple arguing. Further investigation of text messages between the two also revealed a consistent pattern of disagreements.
The case against Matchen solidified as more evidence emerged. Investigators discovered doorbell camera footage from the night of the murder that showed Matchen banging on the door at 10:30 p.m. while attempting to obscure his identity with a flashlight. The camera was subsequently removed from the door frame, and no further recordings were available. Cell phone records also placed Scott's phone with Matchen after 11 p.m., which directly conflicted with his alibi of being out to get tools. His vehicle was also captured on traffic cameras during this time. An autopsy later confirmed that Scott had died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Kevin Matchen was arrested and charged with a multitude of offenses, including felony murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. After a trial where the evidence was presented, the jury deliberated for a mere 35 minutes before finding him guilty on all charges. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 15 years for the murder of Alysia Darice Scott.
