An Idaho man has been charged with killing four of his neighbors on Father’s Day after a teenager allegedly masturbated in front of the man’s family, according to an affidavit.
Majorjon Kaylor, 31, said he “freaked out” on Sunday during an argument with neighbors in Kellogg, Idaho, The police affidavit states that 18-year-old Devin Smith “exposed himself, shook his penis and masturbated” through a ground-floor window in front of Kaylor’s wife and daughters.
According to police, Kaylor said he shot 65-year-old Kenneth Guardipee, his 41-year-old daughter Kenna Guardipee, and their two sons, Devin and 16-year-old Aiken Smith. At around 7 p.m., both the guards and Aiken were apparently shot once in the right temple at close range with a semi-automatic pistol, investigators said, while Devin Smith suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
From left: Kenneth Guardipee, Devin Smith, Kenna Guardipee and Aiken Smith. The four were shot dead in their home in Kellogg, Idaho, on Sunday.
In a hearing Tuesday in Shoshone County District Court, Kaylor told a judge he understood the charges against him and that he faces the maximum penalty of death or life in prison. His attorney, Lisa Chesebro, said she would side with the judge on the bail request, which was denied. Chesebro did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Ben Allen described the murders as “horrific” during the hearing.
Justin Klitch, the detective who interviewed Kaylor after the murders, said Kaylor told him he was upset because Smith’s mother and grandfather did not take his concerns seriously when Kaylor told them about the incident. In addition, Smith was acting suspiciously and watching Kaylor’s children, the affidavit states.
Kaylie Kaylor, Majorjon Kaylor’s wife, told investigators the victims had recently moved into the apartment below them. She said she and her daughters were outside on June 13 when Smith stood completely naked in front of a window and masturbated in front of them, the affidavit said. They called police, who investigated the case, the affidavit said.
Around 6 p.m. Sunday, the Kaylors were allegedly caught on video in the backyard arguing with Kenna Guardipee, who was standing near their back door. Klitch said Kaylie Kaylor seemed upset because she didn’t believe Smith would face any consequences from the police or the Guardipees.
“We responded to the call, investigated the call and prepared the report that same day and submitted it to the district attorney’s office for charges,” said Kellogg Police Chief Paul Twidt. told Associated Press on the Kaylors’ complaint against Smith, pointing out that his officer had been informed by the district attorney that a charge of public nuisance would be filed.
“I stand by what my officer did, and he did everything he could at the time. Nobody could have foreseen something like this,” he added. (Twidt referred requests for further comment to the Idaho State Police.)
Kaylie Kaylor ran upstairs after hearing gunshots during the argument and seeing Kenna and Kenneth Guardipee fall to the ground. She then heard more gunshots, the affidavit states. According to police, Majorjon Kaylor told her “he did what he had to do and she should tell her children he protected them.”
The affidavit says the couple also exchanged memes about Gary Plauché, who served no prison time after publicly shooting the man who kidnapped and raped Plauché’s son, and a drawing of a man shooting another man in the head with the caption “This is how you catch a predator.”
The apartment building in Kellogg, Idaho where the shooting occurred.
In interviews with the Idaho State Journal, Kenna Guardipee’s friends and colleagues remembered her as a “sweet and kindhearted” single mother. Her father was recovering from a heart attack and her son, Devin Smith, who had a learning disability, had just graduated from high school, a friend said. Aiken was a “super good kid” who dreamed of joining the Air Force after high school, the friend said.
Kaylie Kaylor’s mother, Stacey Croston, started a GoFundMe campaign to support her daughter and grandchildren.
“A tragic event has completely upended her life and left her with severe emotional and financial burdens,” Croston wrote. “Kaylie has tragically lost her home and the means to provide for her children. … By assisting her through this sudden financial crisis, we can help Kaylie focus on healing her family and providing a nurturing environment for her children during this traumatic time.”
Majorjon Kaylor is being held without bail on four counts of murder and one count of burglary. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 3.
