Grandma's Facebook post inspires West Virginia man to commit murder and gets life sentence

In a world increasingly shaped by the digital landscape, the impact of social media can sometimes have devastating real-world consequences.

The case of West Virginia native Kayce Simms reminds us how a simple Facebook post can escalate into a chain of tragic events, leading to a senseless act of violence and a life sentence.

In November 2022, an argument between Kayce Simms' grandmother and her brother's roommate, Ashtin Owens, escalated to the point that Simms' grandmother took to Facebook to express her frustration.

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Little did she know that this social media post would set off a series of events that would ultimately lead to Owens' untimely demise.

According to Fayette County Prosecutor Anthony Ciliberti, the argument between Simms' grandmother and Owens stemmed from a disagreement over the use of the grandmother's vehicle.

When she went to her brother's home to confront him, Owens, who was also present, became embroiled in the altercation.

Feeling disrespected, Simms' grandmother took to Facebook to air her grievances, unaware of the consequences that would soon occur.

Seeing his grandmother's Facebook post, Kayce Simms, a 21-year-old from Mount Hope, West Virginia, took action.

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Ciliberti says Simms “saw the Facebook post and called her (his grandmother) and found out from her what had happened, which prompted Simms to get a gun and then later that evening, he went to Owens' residence, confronted him and fired shots. him.”

Police responded to the scene and upon arrival it was determined that the victim, 37-year-old Ashtin Owens, had suffered two gunshot wounds. Owens was transported by helicopter to a trauma center in Charleston, West Virginia, but later succumbed to his injuries.

The tragic incident was quickly reported to authorities and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department Detective Bureau immediately began an investigation. Three witnesses were present at Owens' home at the time of the shooting, and two of them were able to positively identify Simms as the shooter.

Simms was arrested on December 2, 2022 and has been incarcerated since. During the sentencing hearing, the court heard testimony that Simms had a considerable number of disciplinary citations while incarcerated, including violations involving possession of a weapon , threats against prison employees and assault and battery against prison employees.

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On May 30, 2024, Kayce Simms faced the consequences of her actions in a Fayette County courtroom. Circuit Judge Thomas H. Ewing sentenced him to life in prison with a recommendation of clemency for the crime of first-degree murder.

Additionally, Simms was sentenced to a consecutive 10-year term for the crime of using or presenting a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The judge's decision meant Simms had to serve a minimum sentence of 17 1/2 years before being eligible for parole.

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