Tragic Christmas Eve Double Murder Shocks Community as Families Mourn Two Young Stepsisters

Two young women, stepsisters Madison Daly, 18, and Kayden Lynch, 19, were tragically shot and killed in their Lee County, Alabama home on Christmas Eve, reported by WSFA. The devastating loss has left their blended family and the community reeling as details emerge about the shocking events.

“They were always with each other,” said Anna Miller, a close friend of the Beulah stepsisters. “If you ever see Maddie, you would see Kayden.”

Originally from the Northeast, Lynch and her father moved to Alabama with her two younger sisters. Shortly after, Daly and her mother joined them, creating a blended family that lived together in Beulah. Lynch, known for her outgoing nature, worked at Crumbl Cookie in Opelika, while Daly, a devoted mother to a 1-year-old daughter, pursued online college courses in psychology and criminal justice.

The tragedy struck on Christmas Eve when the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about gunfire at around 3:48 p.m, according to WRBL. Deputies found Daly and Lynch unresponsive with gunshot wounds. The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Jalen Dashawn Holmes, was taken into custody at the scene and charged with capital murder.

Holmes had reportedly assaulted his own mother earlier that day and taken a gun from her house before allegedly opening fire on the stepsisters.

“She was in love with him,” Miller said of Lynch’s relationship with Holmes. “This was the last thing we had ever expected for him to do.”

Miller described Lynch as a bright and caring person who could make the best out of the worst situations. “She loved and cared about everybody so much,” Miller shared. Daly, more reserved, was remembered as an incredible mother. “Maddie was the best momma that I’d ever known for that baby,” she added.

A GoFundMe page set up by the victims’ brother and stepbrother has raised over $1,200 to help with funeral expenses. The family described the tragedy as “nightmarish” and thanked supporters for their kindness during this unimaginable time.

Authorities continue to investigate the double homicide, which occurred after two 9-year-old twin girls, who had been at the home earlier, left safely before the shooting. The heartbreaking incident has left a lasting scar on the Beulah community, now mourning the loss of two vibrant young lives.