List of homicides in 2009

This is a List of homicides in 2009, including homicide cases reported throughout the Birmingham District. A total of 28 homicides have been reported in the area as of March 5, 2009.

Note that a "homicide" refers to the cause of death as determined by a medical examiner, not to the crime of murder as charged by prosecutors and determined by plea or trial.

Jefferson County

Bessemer

1. January 6: Charles Thompson, 26, found shot to death in a car at the CVS pharmacy at 901 9th Avenue North. He was driven there following a gunfight at the Kate S. Waller Homes. [1]

Birmingham

• 13 homicides as of March 11 (list)

Graysville

1. February 16: Richard Melcher, 52, was shot by his brother, Curtis Melcher, who was using a .22 handgun to try to break up a fight between Richard and their father, Pernie Melcher at their home on the 300 block of 15th Avenue Southeast. Curtis was arrested and charged with murder. In 2008 Michael Robinson was run over by Jonathan Melcher, his half-brother, resulting in another homicide at the same address. [2]

Hueytown

1. January 24: Ramona Houston, 79, was found shot to death at her home on Daffodil Avenue. Her husband was also found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. [3]
2. February 19: Kimble Parker, 38, and another person were killed when the car they were riding in ran off the road in the 3500 block of 15th Street Road. The driver, Josh Douglas Cofer, had been drinking and was subsequently charged with murder. [4]
3. February 19: Scott Wright, 36, was killed along with Kimble Parker in the same incident.
4. March 7: William Chad Gilbert, 31, found stabbed to death with three others in a house at 225 Woodland Drive. Scott Lamar Abbott has been charged with murder. [5]
5. March 7: Jeri Lynn Cole, 27, found stabbed to death at the same house.
6. March 7: Nika Sandlin, 24, found stabbed to death at the same house.
7. March 7: Joshua Gilleo, 26, found stabbed to death at the same house.

Midfield

1. March 4: Willie Williams, 86, was killed when her pick-up truck was hit by a car being driven by Marvin Brown, who was fleeing from Midfield Police. Although the officer had ended pursuit several seconds earlier, Brown ran a stop sign and caused the fatal collision. He was charged with murder the next day. [6]

Unincorporated Jefferson County

1. January 16: Tonya Bernicia Murray, 38, was found dead from trauma to the head and stripped of clothing in a wooded area off Rocky Ridge Lane near International Park and I-459. [7]

Shelby County

1. March 11: An unnamed female, 52, was found dead outside a mobile home at 126A Oliver Street, off Pelham Parkway. An injured male taken to the hospital from nearby is believed to be involved. [8]

St Clair County

1. February 2: Michael Clapper, 48, was found bludgeoned to death in a storage unit at Highway 174 Mini Storage on Alabama Highway 174 in Odenville. Billy Lee Spence, Jr was arrested and charged after investigators determined that he was involved during an interview. The death is believed to have resulted from a prior argument. [9]
2. February 28: Stoney Lee McDuffie, 42, was found beaten to death in a mobile home on the 200 block of Trails End Lane in Moody. No arrest. [10]

Walker County

1. February 2: Frank Creel, 51, was killed in a shootout with Michael Norris at Norris' home on the 7000 block of Carbon Hill- Nauvoo Road in Nauvoo. Norris was injured in the gunfight. No charges have yet been filed. [11]

External links

• Birmingham News map of area homicides in 2009