Couple leaves 6-month old behind after murder-suicide

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Updated: 1/04 10:30 am
ORANGE PARK, Fla.-- At just 23 years old, Kayla Beynon had her whole life ahead of her and two small children to raise, but according to police, it was all taken from her by the one she loved: her boyfriend Zachary Johns. Police say he shot her, then himself in this home they shared together in Oakleaf Plantation. Neighbors are in disbelief.

"They seemed like normal people just going on with their lives," said neighbor Marcella Kenniston.

But Action News has learned there was trouble in paradise. Last night was not the first time police responded to the home Beynon shared with her boyfriend.

"I just heard arguing, kind of screaming at each other," Kenniston said.

"I had heard a lot of arguments weeks before, car door slamming and arguments," said another neighbor, who didn't want to reveal her identity.

Nearly a month ago, Beynon requested police help while moving out. Neighbors tell Action News that the couple had just moved back in together and were trying to make things work. One neighbor who didn't want to reveal her identity told Action News she wishes she had stepped in sooner, so a toddler and 6-month-old had a chance at growing up with their mother.

"We kind of felt bad that we didn't ask her 'hey are you ok, do you need anything, because we thought about it and we didn't," she said.
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whosaysnocan - 1/4/2013 5:38 PM
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While some people are mature enough to be "young" parents, it seems quite obvious that these were not. The mother has a toddler from another male & the baby with the male that killed her. From what we have seen in the media she moved out, but moved back in within a short time. Surely there were some "good reasons" for this. Now we know there was nothing good about it. Personally, I would like to see a mandatory parenting/relationship programs for anyone like this. Surely social services/DCF could figure out a way to provide help for people like this. Especially for those receiving medical/food assistance from the system. I lack compassion for people that have children without the proper tools to do the best for said children. Yes, I know there will always be people entering the commitment of having children with what they believe are the best of intentions. They marry, make a nest and all that, then for whatever the problems in life they decide is intolerable, they dissolve it. The children will have to deal with what the parents decide for them. But at the very least the parents did try to provide some security for them. I have the utmost compassion for children tossed around by their parents for their poor choices/decisions. My heart and prayers for these little ones and the ones that will be responsible to raise them.
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