Winchester, Kentucky Murder-Suicide: Tyler Snowden Kills Ex-Girlfriend Ava Brantley Before Turning Gun on Himself, One Day After She Filed Protective Order

Winchester, Kentucky — A tragic case of domestic violence has left a Kentucky woman dead after her former boyfriend fatally shot her before taking his own life — just one day after she filed for a protective order against him.

According to authorities, Tyler Snowden, 38, of Irvine, Kentucky, broke into the Winchester home of Ava Brantley, 35, early Friday morning around 5 a.m. on October 17, at the 100 block of Westside Drive.

Responding officers with the Winchester Police Department arrived at the scene following reports of gunfire and discovered both Snowden and Brantley dead inside the residence. Investigators determined the incident to be a murder-suicide, with Snowden allegedly shooting Brantley before turning the weapon on himself.

Police also located Snowden’s vehicle parked near the scene, and a later search of his home led to the recovery of a suicide note, according to FOX56.

Court records reveal that this was not Snowden’s first encounter with domestic violence. In September 2023, police arrested him after witnesses claimed he attempted to run over a previous girlfriend. The victim at the time told officers she feared for her life, saying Snowden had previously threatened to kill her, LEX18 reported.

Snowden was subsequently charged with assault under extreme emotional disturbance and wanton endangerment, ultimately pleading guilty. Despite receiving a seven-year prison sentence, he was granted a two-year diversion, which allowed him to remain out of prison under specific conditions.

 

Tyler Snowden

Under the diversion agreement, Snowden was prohibited from possessing firearms, was required to undergo anger management counseling, random drug testing, and was ordered to have no contact with the prior victim.

It remains unclear whether Ava Brantley was aware of Snowden’s violent history when they began dating. Just one month into his court-ordered diversion program, another relationship turned deadly.

Both bodies were transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for autopsy, and the investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing.