Kayla Dixon, 18, and her boyfriend Nathaniel Vivien presented themselves as a couple who were looking to purchase a PlayStation 4. In the fall of 2014, the young couple responded to a Craigslist ad posted by Danny Zeitz.
According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, Zeitz was looking to sell his Playstation 4 to make extra money. Seitz was a well-known gamer in the Atlanta community. When Vivien and Dixon showed interest in purchasing the video game console, Zeitz agreed to meet the couple. However, Vivien attempted to take the PS4 from Zeitz without paying. A scuffle ensued and Dixon grabbed a gun when Zeitz continued to hold on to the game console. Dixon fired a shot and hit her boyfriend, Vivien, in the hand by mistake. The bullet went through Vivien’s hand and hit Zeitz in the chest. Zeitz died from the gunshot wound.
During the shooting, Dixon’s 16-month old baby was in the backseat of her car. Dixon and Vivien fled the scene and went to Northside Hospital and asked for treatment for Vivien’s gun shot wound. They initially told the hospital staff that they were victims of a robbery. But when authorities investigated, they realized that Dixon and Vivien were at the scene when Zeitz was killed. Dixon and Vivien were eventually arrested for Zeitz’s murder.
The crime was planned by Dixon and Vivien for months. After investigating, police discovered that Dixon and Vivien were watching YouTube videos on how to commit a robbery. They also erased their texts messages between each other to hide evidence.
While on trial, Dixon’s attorney revealed that she was raped as a child and continued to suffer due to self-esteem issues. Dixon’s story is another cautionary tale on how one bad decision can change lives. Dixon will spend years behind bars, her child will be raised without a mother, and Zeitz lost his life and will never reach his full potential.
Dixon apologized to Zeitz’s family for the murder of their son, but she was still handed a hefty sentence by the judge.
Dixon will have to spend the next 40 years of her life in prison. Her boyfriend, Vivien, will go to trial this summer.
