In a chilling turn of events that has left the community of Westfield, Massachusetts, reeling, a young mother was brutally murdered in her own home, leaving behind a grieving family and a tragic tale of jealousy and rage. Alexis Avery, only 20 years old, was found dead on January 13, 2019, after a horrific night out that should have been filled with laughter and joy.
On that fateful night, Alexis had plans for a girls’ night out with her cousin, Caitlyn Avery. The two had a long-awaited evening planned after Alexis dropped her infant daughter, Darla, off at her grandmother’s house. With excitement in the air, they dressed up, ready to enjoy a night at the bars. However, unbeknownst to them, Alexis’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Blake Scanland, would soon cast a dark shadow over their night.
Witnesses recount that Alexis had changed her relationship status on Facebook to single that night and began flirting with a coworker, Scott Burns, at the Maple Leaf Cafe. As the night progressed, the atmosphere grew tense when Scanland unexpectedly arrived at the bar. Witnesses described him as moping and distraught, lamenting the loss of his family. Despite his troubled demeanor, he did not appear intoxicated, raising concerns about his mental state as Alexis and Scott grew closer.
After an encounter at the bar that left Alexis feeling uneasy, she and Caitlyn decided to leave for another venue. Scanland, however, would not leave the situation without attempting to assert control. Witnesses described him standing off by the pool tables, watching Alexis and Scott closely, his jealousy simmering beneath the surface.
The following day, Alexis’s family grew increasingly worried when she failed to pick up her daughter as promised. It wasn’t until Sunday morning, January 13, that the horrifying truth emerged. Blake Scanland called 911, admitting to having stabbed Alexis. When police arrived at their apartment, they were met with a gruesome scene—Alexis lay in a pool of blood, her life brutally taken from her, while a bloody knife rested on the kitchen counter.
Friends and family painted a picture of Alexis as a compassionate young woman, full of life and dreams. The tragedy of her death reverberated throughout the community, with loved ones struggling to comprehend the brutal end to her promising future. During the trial, Alexis’s mother delivered a heart-wrenching statement, reflecting on the immense void left by her daughter’s death. “Every day I wake up and for a split second, I feel the hope and inspiration that a new day could bring. And then the reality of our lives hits me,” she lamented.
As the trial unfolded, Blake Scanland’s defense sought to portray him as a man overcome by love, but the prosecution made a compelling case for his possessive nature, fueled by jealousy and delusions of betrayal. The jury ultimately found Scanland guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The aftermath of Alexis’s death has left her family shattered, with her daughter Darla now growing up without her mother. “Alexis will not be forgotten. We will advocate for her for the rest of our lives,” her family vowed, ensuring that her legacy lives on.
This tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked jealousy and violence in relationships. Alexis Avery’s life, filled with potential and promise, was cut short far too soon, leaving behind a grieving family and a community forever changed by the brutality of her murder.
