Memphis mother charged with murder after fatally shooting man found under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed

A 36-year-old Memphis mother has been charged with first-degree murder after she shot and killed a 20-year-old man she discovered hiding under her teenage daughter’s bed.

According to police, the incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday. Kendra Scott returned home shortly before 2 a.m. and found Rodderius Morton, 20, under the bed of her 13-year-old daughter. The girl had allegedly invited Morton to the house around 1 a.m.

Scott, who was armed, confronted the man. According to the arrest affidavit, she ordered him out of the house. Morton left through the front door, and Scott followed him outside. A short time later, a gunshot was heard. Morton was found shot and later pronounced dead.

Scott was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. She remains in custody pending a court appearance.

In a statement to police, Scott reportedly said she “saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do.”

Her attorney, Blake Ballin, described the situation as “the worst nightmare of any parent of a 13-year-old girl,” adding that the case raises difficult questions about how a parent might react under extreme emotional stress.

The case has already sparked debate in the community and online. Some neighbors expressed sympathy for Scott, describing her as a “real nice lady” who was protecting her child. Others questioned why she did not call police instead of confronting the man with a firearm.

Legal experts have also weighed in on whether Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine — which allows the use of force to protect one’s home — would apply. A retired law enforcement officer noted that the shooting occurred outside the house and that the available affidavit does not allege Morton made a threat at the moment he was shot, which could complicate a self-defense claim.

The investigation remains ongoing. Scott is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing.

The case highlights the intense emotions that can arise when a parent believes their child is in danger, while also underscoring the serious legal consequences that can follow the use of deadly force.