In an exclusive report, Crime and Cask brings you the untold story of the tragic death of 14-year-old Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses. This is not just another headline; it’s a heartbreaking account of a young life cut short and a family left with lingering questions and no answers. Today, we sit down with Kaden’s mother, Erika Moses, to hear her account of what happened in December 2023, and her ongoing fight for justice for her son.
On the night of December 30, 2023, tragedy struck in Clinton, South Carolina, with the death of 14-year-old Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses. The teenager, who lived between the homes of his separated parents, Erika Moses and Jordan Moses, was pronounced dead at approximately 11:15 p.m. that evening, just moments after a single gunshot was heard in the home of Erika Moses.
Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses Photo: Facebook
According to statements from Erika, she was asleep at the time of the shooting, and Kaden had a male friend over. Both boys were reportedly on their phones and playing a video game; Kaden was on a FaceTime Audio call with his girlfriend, while his friend was using FaceTime with his girlfriend. Around 11 p.m., Erika was awakened by her daughter, who alerted her that Kaden had been shot. Erika rushed to Kaden’s room, found him sitting in a gaming chair with his arms to his side near his legs, and immediately called 911 as he was unresponsive. As emergency services were en route, she checked for signs of life and began chest compressions as best she could in an attempt to save her son.
The male friend who was at the house with Kaden was not present in the room when Erika entered, nor was he in the home. He was later spotted near the street outside, without a jacket, on a night when temperatures had dropped to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. This detail raised further questions about the events leading up to Kaden’s death.
Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses Photo: Facebook
The initial investigation was conducted by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office but was soon handed over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), specifically to Senior Special Agent April Merrill of the Special Victims Unit, which handles child fatalities. The Laurens County Medical Examiner, Dr. Claire Rose, along with Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Ward, conducted the coroner’s report. According to their findings, the bullet or projectile entered the left side of Kaden’s head and exited through the top right side, indicating that the shot was fired at close range, consistent with a .243 bolt-action rifle. The toxicology report came back negative, and the death was officially classified as a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head within intermediate range, ruling out suicide. Under South Carolina law, homicide is defined as the unlawful killing of one human being by another. The term “homicide” is a broad category that includes various specific offenses, such as murder, manslaughter, and other unlawful killings.
Laurens County Coroner’s Report
Complicating matters further, Erika reported that all ammunition for the rifle was typically locked in a safe inside or in Kaden’s truck, to which he did not have access since the truck keys were missing. These mysterious keys were later found by Erika behind a washing machine in the house. The friend had reportedly been wearing a hoodie and a leather-type jacket when he came over. While the hoodie remains at the Moses home, the leather jacket has not been located. Other children in the household reported hearing a sound they described as a light bulb breaking or a muffled boom, not the distinctive sound one would expect from a high-powered rifle fired within a five bedroom home.
Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses Photo: Facebook
Despite the apparent mystery surrounding Kaden’s death and the initial classification as a homicide, there has been a noticeable silence from law enforcement agencies and local media. The only public mention of Kaden’s tragic passing has been his obituary, leaving many unanswered questions and a grieving family seeking justice for what the medical examiner has declared a homicide.
At Crime and Cask, we are committed to investigating this heartbreaking story and uncovering the truth behind what happened to Kaden Thomas-Lee Moses. We encourage our readers to follow along with us on our social media channels as we delve deeper into this case. Your support could help bring answers to a family desperately in need of closure. The family may open a GoFundMe page in the near future to help with legal representation and investigations into Kaden’s homicide.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore this tragic case. Together, we can seek justice for Kaden and ensure his story is not forgotten.
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