Suvechha Sarkar
What began as an ordinary day in October 2012 for 48-year-old Kenneth Darrell Horton soon turned into a nightmare. He was at a friend’s house in Greer, South Carolina, when he was brutally killed. It also led to a hostage situation involving his friend and her family, leading to the arrest of his killer. It revealed a shocking tale of betrayal and alleged jealousy. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Home Alone: Behind the Shower Curtain’ delves deeper into the circumstances leading up to his murder. It also features real call recordings and interviews with his friends, including one who was at the scene.
Kenneth Darrell Horton Was Fatally Shot While Protecting His Friend’s Family
Kenneth Darrell Horton was born on November 14, 1963, and brought immense joy to the lives of his parents, Patricia Ann Marcus and Willie Fred Horton. He grew up in a loving household with his brothers, Freddy, Robert, and Woodrow, and his sister Linda. Kenneth’s friends often described him as someone kind and dependable. Over time, he began his career as a professional in the construction and tree services industry. He later embraced fatherhood with open arms as he welcomed his daughter, Amanda Mooney, into the world. However, tragedy struck when Kenneth’s father passed away on September 8, 2001. After coping with the grief, Patricia found love once again and married Joe.
Kenneth, on the other hand, maintained a close friendship with Cheryl Mann and her family. He often helped them out since she was a single mother and had two daughters, Kayla Atkinson and Summer Mann. On October 15, 2012, he visited the house of Sandy Hand, Cheryl’s mother, on Skyland Drive in Greer, South Carolina, for dinner with the family. Following that, Cheryl, Kayla, and he went outside to smoke, while 10-year-old Summer and her grandmother stayed inside. According to Cheryl, that was when they reportedly heard a sound in the woods, and Kenneth went to check. She stated that when they saw a man with a hunting rifle in his hands, they ran inside the house. In the course of a standoff to stop the gunman from entering, Kenneth was shot in the chest.
Around 9:37 pm, Cheryl called 911 to report the incident. However, when officials arrived at the scene, they discovered that Cheryl, her daughters, and Sandy were held hostage inside the house. After around five hours of negotiation, the SWAT team reportedly used explosives to break down the door, which led to a firefight between the authorities and the gunman. When the situation settled down, they found Kenneth dead in Cheryl’s bedroom. As per reports, the coroner determined his cause of death to be from the fatal gunshot wound to his chest and ruled it a homicide. During the crossfire, Summer was shot in the knee, while Sandy was shot in her hips. Cheryl also sustained an injury from fragments of a toilet that was shattered by bullets during the standoff. Fortunately, none of them had any life-threatening injuries.
A Terrifying Hostage Crisis and Violent Standoff Led to the Killer’s Arrest
When the officials received the 911 call from Cheryl, she had informed them that the gunman was shooting inside the house. After they initially arrived, they discovered that Cheryl, Kayla, Summer, Sandy, and Kenneth were trapped in the home. Shortly after, they received a call from a family member of the gunman, who turned out to be Shane Kelly Young. It turned out that he was reportedly holding Cheryl and her family hostage inside the bathroom and had called his father to inform him what was happening. His father then reportedly contacted a family member who was a law enforcement official, who, in turn, informed the officials at the scene.
The police spoke with Shane multiple times on the phone, during which he reportedly stated that he wanted to talk to Kayla, who was his ex-girlfriend. After trying to negotiate with him for hours and learning that Shane had shot Kenneth, they finally decided to send the SWAT team in. According to reports, they used explosives to blow off the door, following which Shane opened fire on the family before taking shots at the officers. Ultimately, he was shot by them and was then taken into custody immediately on October 15, 2012. While Summer, Cheryl, and Sandy had sustained injuries, Kayla was found hiding behind the shower curtain. Investigators learned that Shane had no idea she was hiding there.
Additionally, Shane shot two deputies, one in the left arm and the other in the right leg. Cheryl stated that Kayla broke up with Shane because he was allegedly becoming jealous and controlling. She claimed that Shane had also started using drugs. The investigation revealed that on the morning of October 15, Kayla eluded him when they met at a convenience store. Moreover, Cheryl alleged that Shane didn’t take their breakup well and continued to call and text his ex-girlfriend. He was ultimately charged with first-degree murder of Kenneth, five counts of kidnapping for holding hostages, nine counts of attempted murder, burglary, resisting arrest, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling.
Shane Young is Incarcerated at a North Carolina Prison Facility Today
Following his arrest, Shane was denied a bond during a hearing in November 2012. The solicitor originally wanted to pursue the death penalty, but later decided against it since it would put Kenneth’s family members and the survivors through a lengthy trial. Ultimately, on November 19, 2013, Shane pleaded guilty to murder, first-degree burglary, and eight counts of attempted murder. During the plea hearing, the solicitor claimed that Shane’s actions were motivated by his unhappiness due to his break-up with Kayla. On the other hand, the public defender acknowledged that although the defendant did not apologize, he was allegedly remorseful for his actions.
The public defender also claimed that Shane had prior traumatic injuries to his brain from two car crashes, which allegedly affected his anger, mood, and mental stability. The prosecution further presented forensic evidence before the court, confirming that it was the defendant’s bullets that had hit Summer and Sandy during the crossfire. Right after, Shane received two life sentences for murder and burglary and eight consecutive 30-year terms, totaling 240 years for the attempted murder charges. According to the plea agreement, he will never be eligible for parole. Currently, Shane is serving his sentence at Tyger River Correctional Institute in Enoree, South Carolina.
Cheryl Mann Rebuilt Her Life With the Support and Love of Her Family and Friends
Cheryl Mann was a single mother who was working two jobs in 2012. She gave it her all to provide for her then 10-year-old daughter, Summer, and also had an older daughter, Kayla. Cheryl said that October 2012 was a rough year for the family as her grandmother passed away, and Sandy also underwent two surgeries. However, she said that she always received the unwavering support of her friend, Kenneth. Things took a dark turn on October 15, when Kayla’s ex-boyfriend, Shane, shot her friend Kenneth, who was at her home and held her family hostage. Cheryl was the one who asked Kayla to hide behind the shower curtain, which Shane was reportedly oblivious to. Later, while speaking about the experience, she said, “Thank God he didn’t see her. I can’t imagine what would have happened if he had.”
However, the loss of her dear friend, Kenneth, always broke Cheryl’s heart. Expressing her grief, she stated, “He is truly missed, truly missed.” Following the incident, Cheryl focused on returning to a normal life with her daughters by her side. From sharing meaningful time together at the dog shelter to visiting the bowling alley with Summer and Kayla, she always made the most of every moment. She focused on healing and celebrating festive occasions surrounded by her family. She later welcomed her beloved furry pup into her life, who became her constant companion. From time to time, Cheryl expressed her sadness because she often missed her parents and her older sister. In February 2023, she faced a hurdle when she broke her arm.
Kayla Atkinson Moved to Another State After Getting Engaged
Kayla had never expected that she would have to face such a horrific situation regarding a person she once trusted most. According to Cheryl, Kayla and her family knew Shane for around five to six years before they finally began dating. However, she alleged that Shane began using drugs, which made her pull away slowly from him. One of their family friends, Monica, had revealed on the show that Shane had even given Kayla an engagement ring, and they seemed happy together until his alleged drug abuse began. Eventually, Kayla split up with Shane, but he allegedly continued to call and text her. Cheryl mentioned an instance when he even came to their home to speak to Kayla, but she had to turn him away.
During the hostage situation, she stayed hidden behind the shower curtain, which helped her remain unscathed during the incident. Cheryl disclosed that after that day, Kayla focused on her family and eventually moved to another state. She enjoys spending her time outdoors and cherishes the little joys of life. Furthermore, according to the last available update, she was engaged to the love of her life and was looking forward to a blissful future ahead. We believe that she is living a happy life and has been walking the path of healing since the traumatic experience. As far as her personal standing is concerned, Kayla has chosen to lead a quiet life away from the limelight.
