The community of Mount Sterling, Kentucky is mourning the death of David N. Scott, a beloved deputy jailer and respected community member who was killed in a murder that shocked the city and left a lasting scar on those who knew him.
Scott was fatally shot at the age of 47 on May 26, 2018, after a longtime neighborhood dispute turned deadly. Authorities said neighbor Frances Zaayer first fired at another driver before going to the Scotts’ home, forcing her way inside, and shooting both David and his wife, Shawna Scott. David died at the scene, while Shawna survived the attack and later underwent numerous reconstructive surgeries during her recovery.
The tragedy sparked an outpouring of support across Mount Sterling and beyond. David was remembered not only for his work as a deputy jailer, but also for the kind of presence people relied on, steady, familiar, and deeply rooted in the community. In the days after his death, neighboring counties provided assistance to the Montgomery County Detention Center so Scott’s coworkers could attend his funeral and honor his memory.
David Scott’s death remains one of the most heartbreaking crimes in Mount Sterling’s recent history. He will be remembered by family, friends, coworkers, and the wider community as a man whose life was taken far too soon, and whose memory continues to endure through those who loved him.