Alabama Bureau of Investigations Looking Into Murder-Suicide
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A murder-suicide across two different counties has the Alabama Bureau of Investigations searching for answers and residents in shock.
A man believed to have killed his wife in Montgomery left her body here at a hotel in the 5100 block of Carmichael Road. He then called an acquaintance, an off-duty Montgomery Police Officer, to tell him about the murder and to indicate where his wife’s body could be found. After, drove to Wetumpka and shot and killed himself.
“That’s shocking,” says Reshundrix Jackson. “I mean, that’s pretty shocking.”
Residents at a gas station just steps from the hotel were shocked to hear the news.
“It’s not the type of area you hear about a murder.”
Steve Searcy is the Executive Director of the Family Justice Center. He also served as Commander of the Montgomery Police Department’s Domestic Violence Bureau for 12 years. He says he sees domestic violence homicides like this one often.
“Most people that are not understanding of domestic violence think that it’s a spontaneous event but the people that work in the field, we know that it’s a course of conduct and there’s a cycle of domestic violence and there’s a beginning, there’s a middle then there’s a catastrophic end.”
Searcy works to prevent that catastrophic end.
“It’s the ultimate power and control fantasy and what we know in working in the domestic field is that domestic violence is all about power and control.”
Both the Montgomery and Wetumpka Police Departments have asked the Alabama Bureau of Investigations to handle the incident, because it occurred in two counties. Elmore County resident Lawrence Manning says the crime is upsetting.
“That’s a sad situation,” he says. “That’s the only way I can describe it. It’s sad that it wound up being that way.”
Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the district attorneys.
There is no excuse for domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Family Justice Center at 334-262-7378. They can provide shelter and a way out.
