murder

Lowery pleads guilty to murder


Brandon Lowery

The fourth of five defendants in a double murder case from 2018 pled guilty Monday to serve life in prison with no possibility of parole. Andy Hamlin, 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney, announced the plea of Brandon Lowery, 38, on Tuesday, April 11. Lowery pled guilty to two counts of capital murder (murder during the course of a robbery) that stemmed from the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin.  

 

Sheriff’s Office seeks public’s help


Kenneth Spinato is pictured above with his daughter Sherry Renshaw.

Editor’s Note: The following is a press release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department asking for the community’s help in solving a murder investigation.

Over six months ago, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, Kenneth Spinato was found deceased in his Fayette County home. Investigators quickly determined that Spinato was the victim of a homicide.

Two sentenced for double homicide

Lazaro Moran

District Attorney Andy Hamlin has announced prison sentences for two of five defendants involved in a 2018 double murder case in Fayette Co. Lazaro Moran, 35, of New Jersey, will serve two life sentences and Lindettia Lowery, 36, of Fairfield, will serve two concurrent 25-year sentences. Both pled guilty on Friday, Oct. 14 to murder in the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin.

Council sentenced for double murder


Michael Evan Council

The first of five defendants in a double murder case from 2018 pled guilty on Friday, July 8, agreeing to serve two consecutive life sentences. The sentencing of Michael Evan Council, 28, a New Jersey resident, was announced by 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin.
Council was one of the defendants responsible for the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin.  

 

Hill sentenced to life in prison for murder


Blue Berry Hill

District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced on Friday, Nov. 6 that Blue Berry Hill was sentenced to serve life in prison for a 2019 murder in Fayette County. Hill, 19, of Cullman, was charged with murder in the 2019 shooting death of Joshua Devin Bush. Bush, 18, was found dead in the intersection of Sand Springs and Bly roads in rural Fayette County on Aug. 30, 2019. A passerby reported finding his body around 2:30 p.m., adding they had seen nothing when they drove through the same intersection two hours prior.

Williams arrested for Bankston murder


Travis Terell Williams was arrested for the murder of Maronda Williams.

Travis Terell Williams, 37, of 832 33rd Ave., Tuscaloosa, was taken into custody by the district attorney’s office of the 24th judicial circuit on Feb. 18. On Feb. 19, Travis Williams was served with two warrants, charging him with the death of his ex-wife, Maronda Parker Williams.

Authorities investigating Bankston woman’s death


Shown is the home in the Bankston community where Maronda Parker Williams was found dead on Tuesday, Jan. 21. No cause of death has been released, but foul play is suspected by law enforcement authorities.

The death of a Bankston woman last week is being investigated by law enforcement authorities as a possible homicide. Maronda Parker Williams, age 49, of the Bankston community, was found dead in her home off Highway 18 East on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

 

Beaty convicted for murder of Fayette man



Candice Cheyanne Beaty, 29, Winfield, has been convicted of first-degree robbery and felony murder in connection with the death of William Jerome Henry in April 2016. According to court documents released by Marion County Circuit Clerk Denise Mixon, Beaty pled guilty to the charges in 25th Judicial Circuit Court on Nov. 12 and was ordered by Circuit Judge Lee Carter to serve a 30-year sentence in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) and to pay up to $750 in restitution.