Kentucky Man Writes Facebook Apology Before Allegedly Murdering Ex-Girlfriend In Front Of 7-Month-Old Daughter
Allen County police arrested 23-year-old Ethan Reid, of Scottsville, Kentucky, Tuesday on criminal homicide charges after he murdered ex-girlfriend in front of their 7-month-old daughter moments after writing a Facebook apology, according to the Tennessean.
At around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 4, police were called to a home in the 300 block of Huff Lane about a shooting.
Upon arrival, they spotted 20-year-old Kaylah Hodges of Portland, Tennessee, on the porch, injured from a gunshot wound to her back.
Paramedics immediately rush Hodges to a local hospital, where she later died.
It was later uncovered that just hours before her death, Reid wrote a Facebook apology where he stated “Sorry guys. I’m truly not this bad of a person. I’ve been pushed to this point over of time. I’m disappointed in myself too. I could have been so much more. It’s so sad. I’m a terrible person overall. Learn from my mistakes.”
“Just know this was never my intentions. I love all of you. I’m just not meant to be happy. Ever. I’m sorry. I love you all.”
A Scottsville, Ky., man is charged with the murder of his 20-year-old girlfriend: https://t.co/KTSdPxZgfn pic.twitter.com/gxphhuLkBp
— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) October 4, 2016
Afterward, Reid reportedly arrived at his parents’ mobile home, where his ex-girlfriend and their baby were living, and kicked the door down.
Reid reportedly entered the home with a shotgun.
Sources say when Hodges saw the father of her child with a shotgun in his hand, she tried to run towards the front door.
Just moments after making her way outside, Reid reportedly shot his ex-girlfriend in her back, causing her to collapse on the front porch, according to the News Channel 5.
Reid’s mother — April Riley — who was “only a few feet away” when her son allegedly murdered his ex-girlfriend – stated that her granddaughter will now grow up without her parents.
“Kaylah handed me the baby and got around me, and Ethan shoved me and the baby back and went after her and then I heard a ‘pop.’ When I got to the edge of the hallway I saw her fall out the front door,” Riley said through tears.
“I want her back, I have prayed all night to get her back.”
Afterward, Reid tried to take his own life when he returned home but his next door neighbor – whose name has not been released – was able to stop him. The neighbor restrained the suspect until police arrived at the scene.
Allen County police officials arrested Reid, who Scottsville Police Department Detective John Rose say was “well intoxicated.”
After Reid posted the Facebook apology just hours before the murder, it was followed by 150 shares and over 200 comments of mixed emotions.
Some social media users showed concern for Reid, stating “praying for you and hoping you can get the help you need,” while others were angry and hoping he would “rot in h***.”
Shawna Creekmore on Facebook said “I just got one thing to say: We all sin, yes, but not everybody’s sin affects so many in this manner. If you want to quote the Bible I could sit and do it all day long but only one thing comes to mind, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ A child will now grow up without its mother or father. Your own child. That’s sad to me. Poor baby.”
Another Facebook user, Rhonda Haggard, stated that “mental health issues are real and so is the hopeless feelings people have because of them — don’t be part of the problem. I pray for peace — for each and every member of the family, especially his poor mother. What a hard, terrible decision she must have had, but ultimately the right one.”
“Maybe he will get the help he needs. Such a sad story, but with love, hope, and prayers, she can raise Evie in a loving home.”
Reid is currently being held at the Allen County jail on a $1 million bond and he is scheduled to appear before a judge next week.
A motive for the killing has yet to be determined but an investigation is underway.
[Featured Images by Kaylah Hodges/Facebook, Ethan Reid/Facebook]
