In Loving Memory of Alesia Dykes and Bernard Lyles

In Loving Memory of Alesia Dykes and Bernard Lyles

The community of Hardeeville is mourning the tragic loss of 40-year-old Alesia Dykes and 38-year-old Bernard Lyles, a couple whose lives were violently cut short on June 18, 2024. Once friends of the family of 50-year-old Charles Saunders, Dykes and Lyles opened their home to Saunders’ adult son during a family visit — a gesture of trust and generosity that ended in heartbreak.

According to Trasi Campbell, Saunders had been posting videos on social media showing himself holding firearms and threatening someone in the days leading up to the attack. That afternoon, a verbal argument escalated when Saunders arrived at Dykes and Lyles’ apartment. The disagreement turned physical, and Saunders followed the couple back inside their home, ultimately firing a 9 mm handgun while three children were present.

Emergency responders pronounced Alesia Dykes deceased at the scene, while Bernard Lyles succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The couple’s children were left traumatized, with one fleeing to a relative’s home to seek help. Surveillance footage later documented Saunders attempting to evade law enforcement, including discarding his shirt containing gunshot residue and attempting to flee in a vehicle. He was eventually arrested at a Waffle House.

During the trial, Saunders’ defense argued he acted in self-defense, but the jury returned a swift verdict, finding him guilty on two counts of murder. On February 19, 2026, Saunders was sentenced to two life sentences plus five years, ensuring he will spend the remainder of his life in prison.

Beyond the shocking and violent details, it is essential to remember Alesia and Bernard for who they were — loving, generous, and deeply committed to their family and community. They welcomed others into their home, supported their loved ones, and built lives centered around care and compassion. Their tragic deaths have left a void in the hearts of family, friends, and the community who knew them.

Dykes’ sister recalled the moment she learned of the shooting through her nephew, whose words — “‘Iz shot momma and Boo Boo too” — conveyed both innocence and the profound trauma of witnessing such violence at a young age. Their children now face the difficult path of growing up without their parents, carrying the memory of that horrific day as they navigate life.

The loss of Alesia Dykes and Bernard Lyles is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the senselessness of violence. Yet their legacy lives on through the love they shared with family and the kindness they extended to those around them. They are remembered not for the tragedy that ended their lives, but for the lives they built, the people they supported, and the impact they had on everyone fortunate enough to know them.

In loving memory of Alesia Dykes and Bernard Lyles — may their spirits find peace, may their family find strength, and may their memory inspire others to act with compassion, care, and love in a world far too often touched by violence.