In the summer of 2011, the life of 17-year-old Kody Michael Scrunton was tragically cut short in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The young man, a male formerly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was found deceased on June 4, 2011. His body had been left behind a civic league building near Diamond Springs Park, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound. Kody was remembered by his family as a loving individual who enjoyed skateboarding, video games, and music.
At the time of his death, he had been living in Norfolk and had aspirations of earning his GED and enlisting in the Navy.
The investigation into Kody's death led to the arrest of a 16-year-old from Virginia Beach. The suspect was taken into custody on June 14, 2011, and was initially charged with second-degree murder. As the case unfolded, it was revealed that the motive for the killing was to silence Kody. He had reportedly refused to take part in a planned robbery of a drug dealer's home, and those involved feared he would inform the authorities.
The individual charged in Kody's murder was identified as Jabril Holliday, who was 15 years old at the time of the incident. In April 2013, a jury found Holliday guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Following his conviction, Holliday was sentenced to serve 38 years in prison, with an additional 15 years suspended. During the trial, Kody's mother testified about the profound loss and grief her family endured.
