Kendra Scott, 36, told police earlier this month that she “did what [she] had to do.” And what she did, allegedly, is fatally shoot a man she found under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed. The story has been sparking debates across social media platforms about who was right and who was wrong. Here’s what we know about how 20-year-old Rodderius Morton died and what’s next for the Memphis mom who allegedly killed him.
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Memphis Mom Finds Man Under Her 13-Year-Old’s Bed
According to court documents cited by Fox News, Kendra Scott had previously told a witness at the crime that she’d “put a hole” in the head of any boy she saw in her house. This witness is believed to be Scott’s 13-year-old daughter. On July 17, it appears that’s exactly what went down. Officers responded to a shooting at a home on Travis Road, where they discovered a man dead near Scott’s front porch. He had a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Authorities reportedly identified the man as Rodderius Morton. He did not have a weapon at the time of the shooting.
“I saw a dude under my kid’s bed and I did what I had to do,” Kendra Scott reportedly told police following the incident.
The same aforementioned witness at the scene told investigators that the Memphis mom had arrived home between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 p.m., per Fox News and NewsNation. Upon arrival, she allegedly began knocking on the front door and yelling, “Who’s at my house?” Ultimately, a minor child allowed Kendra in the home and she discovered 20-year-old Morton hiding under her daughter’s bed. As Morton prepared to leave the home, he and Scott allegedly got into an argument. She allegedly yelled “Get out of my house, b*tch!” and once they both made it to the front porch, a gunshot rang out. Morton had entered the residence at around 1 a.m. through the back door after allegedly being invited in.
Kendra Scott Bond Set At $100,000 After Fatal Shooting
Kendra Scott appeared in court on Monday (July 20), per NewsNation. By the end of it, a judge set her bond to $100,000. Prosecutors charged the 36-year-old with first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Meanwhile, her defense attorney, Blake Ballin, has said they’re unclear whether the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law will apply.
“I don’t know enough about what led to the actual shooting. I don’t know if there was a scuffle, I don’t know if there was an accidental discharge, I just don’t know,” Ballin said, per Fox News.
Also, Kendra Scott is not allowed to have contact with Morton’s family. She will return to court on August 3, per Fox 12/KPTV.
Former Teacher Of Rodderius Morton Speaks Out
Robin Perkins is reportedly a special-needs educator who formerly taught Rodderius Morton. She spoke to WREG about her experience with him, describing him as a former special-needs student who was sweet. Perkins shared her belief that Kendra Scott could’ve handled the situation differently, in a way that didn’t end with Morton’s death. Additionally, she claimed Morton’s death shocked her. To her, he was a soft-spoken, respectful kid who had been diagnosed with learning disabilities. However, she denied supporting his linking up with a 13-year-old.
“Unbelievable, very, very hurt. Because the young man that I knew, most people, based off this story they don’t know the young man like I did,” Robin Perkins said. “I do not condone his actions of going and mingling with a 13-year-old. However, when you’re not 20, what do you expect? And then I found out last night from his sister that no one knew that he was gone from the house.”
