Tennessee mother charged with first-degree murder after shooting man found under 13-year-old daughter’s bed
A tragic domestic dispute in Memphis, Tennessee, has escalated into a high-stakes legal battle following the death of a 20-year-old man. Kendra Scott, 36, has been officially charged with first-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm after allegedly shooting Rodderius Morton in the back of the head. The shooting occurred after Scott discovered Morton hiding under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed, prompting a confrontation that quickly turned fatal outside the family residence.
According to law enforcement reports and an arrest affidavit, officers responded to emergency calls regarding a shooting in Memphis at approximately 1:40 a.m. on July 16. Upon arrival, first responders located an unresponsive male, later identified as Morton, lying in the front yard with a clear gunshot wound to the back of his head. Medical personnel pronounced Morton dead at the scene. Investigators subsequently recovered a Smith & Wesson black handgun and a single spent shell casing from the front porch of the home.
Court documents detail that Scott’s 13-year-old daughter had secretly invited Morton to the house around 1:00 a.m.. When Scott returned home roughly thirty minutes later, she became suspicious, banging on the front door and demanding to know who was inside. The daughter eventually granted her mother entry, leading Scott to search the bedroom, where she discovered Morton hiding beneath the bed. Witness accounts state that Scott shouted at Morton to leave the premises before following him outside, where a neighbor reported hearing a single gunshot before seeing Scott holding a firearm near the victim’s body.
When questioned by law enforcement officers at the scene, Scott allegedly justified her actions by stating, “I saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do”. However, the case faces significant legal challenges under state self-defense laws. Legal experts noted that Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine—which grants legal immunity to residents using deadly force against unlawful intruders committing violent felonies—may not apply to Scott’s case, as the affidavit contains no evidence that Morton threatened or attacked anyone in the household.
Scott is currently held without bond, with her initial arraignment hearing scheduled for July 24. Her defense attorney described the event as “the worst nightmare of any parent of a 13-year-old girl,” raising questions about emotional rationality under extreme stress. As legal proceedings advance, the case highlights the complex boundaries of parental protection, self-defense statutes, and criminal liability within the justice system.
