A Memphis woman charged with first-degree murder told officers she found a man hiding under her child’s bed and “did what I had to do,” according to a police affidavit. Authorities say the man, identified by police as Rodderius Morton, was located outside the home with a gunshot wound to the back of his head and later pronounced dead at the scene.
What police say happened
Police reports and the sworn affidavit lay out a timeline based on witness statements and on-scene observations. According to the affidavit, a juvenile in the residence alerted an adult to someone inside the home. Officers say the adult went to the front door and yelled, “Who’s at my house?” before entering and discovering Morton under the child’s bed.
The affidavit describes an interaction between Morton and the adult as Morton left the house. Witnesses reported the man was not armed while departing the residence. Investigators say at one point those on the front porch exchanged words, and a witness then heard a single gunshot.
Officers later located Morton in the front yard with what the affidavit describes as a gunshot wound to the back of his head. The affidavit and responding officers’ notes record the scene and the observations that led to charging decisions while the criminal investigation continues.
Memphis woman charged with first-degree murder
Kendra Scott has been charged with first-degree murder and with employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to charging documents and the affidavit. Court records and reporting indicate Scott is being held without bond pending further proceedings.
The charging documents allege facts drawn from the affidavit and witness statements. Those allegations will be evaluated through the court process, including arraignment, potential preliminary hearings and any evidentiary motions the defense or prosecution may file.
Witness accounts and key quotes
Investigators included multiple witness statements in the affidavit. One juvenile witness is quoted in the affidavit saying the adult told investigators she “saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do.” That line is recorded in the police affidavit as part of the juvenile’s account of what the adult said after finding Morton.
Other witnesses described how Morton came to be inside the home and how the events moved to the front porch. According to the affidavit, one witness said Morton had been invited in through the back door earlier. The affidavit also records that, as Morton was leaving, the adult yelled at him to get out — reported in witness statements as, “Get out of my house, [expletive]!” — and that a single gunshot was heard shortly afterward.
The affidavit also includes an alleged prior statement attributed to the adult, in which she reportedly said, in effect, that if she saw a boy in her house she would “put a hole in his” — language the affidavit records as a prior threat. All of these details in this section are drawn from the police affidavit and associated witness accounts included there.
Legal context and next steps
Being charged is not a determination of guilt. The affidavit and charges allege conduct that prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The presumption of innocence applies while the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.
Typical next steps include arraignment, where formal charges are read and the defendant may enter a plea; discovery exchanges, where prosecutors and defense attorneys obtain evidence; and pretrial hearings that can address admissibility of evidence and other legal issues. The police investigation remains active as detectives continue to collect and analyze evidence cited in the affidavit, and forensic results may be pending.
Fox News Digital reported that its reporters reached out to Scott’s attorney. The affidavit, witness statements and physical evidence recovered by investigators will be central to prosecution and defense strategies as the case moves toward any potential trial or resolution.
Frequently asked questions
What charges does Kendra Scott face?
Scott is charged with first-degree murder and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to the police affidavit and charging documents cited in media reporting.
Is Kendra Scott being held without bond?
Yes. Court records and reporting indicate she has been held without bond at this stage.
What do witnesses say about how the man entered the home?
Witnesses told police, and the affidavit records, that Morton was invited in through the back door. A juvenile later alerted the adult in the home, who then discovered Morton hiding under a child’s bed, according to the affidavit.
Source attribution
This report is based on primary documents and reporting, including the police affidavit and witness statements cited in media coverage. The primary reporting used for this article is:
- Fox News Digital — original reporting on the charges and affidavit: https://www.foxnews.com/us/memphis-woman-charged-first-degree-murder-after-shooting-man-found-hiding-under-her-childs-bed-docs
- Police affidavit and witness statements cited above (see the attached affidavit and statements in the reporting linked above). The affidavit and witness statements referenced in this article are available in the public record attached to the reporting linked here: police affidavit and witness statements.
All quoted language and factual details in this article are drawn from the police affidavit and witness statements as reported by Fox News Digital. The details are allegations at this stage and will be reviewed in court.
