Five Unsolved Shoals Murders

The past fifteen months have seen five unsolved murders in the Shoals--four in Lauderdale County and one in Colbert. Most recently, Lula Addison was found murdered in a downtown Florence motel. VOCAL held a candlelight vigil for Ms. Addison last Thursday night at Wilson Park. Florence Police continue to seek Eugene Lee Jones of Bessemer for questioning. The case is now two months old.

Arson in the Central community in Lauderdale County took the lives of three members of the Brewer family last March. Family of Bobby and Sandy Brewer and their nephew Bradley Adams have initiated a ten thousand dollar reward for information on the person or persons responsible for this deadly crime.

Finally, Elbert Davis of Tuscumbia was murdered in June 2012. The murder of the 88 year-old Davis remains a priority for Tuscumbia police, but according to a source in Colbert County, the authorities are no nearer solving the crime than they were in the days immediately following the murder.

It may sound trite to say that someone somewhere knows something, but nonetheless it's true. As our own Florence Police Department preaches, "If you see something, say something."

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Apologies to D.K. and the local VOCAL chapter for not announcing the vigil for Lula Addison. The Addison family needs support now and will continue to need it after the miscreant is apprehended.



Shoalanda

Was Murdered Family Shot?

Last week the state fire marshal's office announced a recent fatal Central fire was arson. The blaze that supposedly killed three members of the Brewer family had been set using an accelerant. Pictured at left is Bradley Adams, the nephew who died that night.

Now a source in the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office has indicated all three were shot before the fire was set. Reportedly there are suspects in the case, and an announcement is forthcoming.

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From Bottom Left: Fox, Pruett, Greenhill

Laurel Pruitt and Matthew Fox could be free within a matter of weeks. Last week the duo pleaded guilty to charges of hindering prosecution and desecration of a corpse. The maximum sentence for these charges is 10 years...120 months.

The sentence is eligible for CIT, meaning the actual maximum time is around 40 months. Parole dates are usually set after the offender has served one-third of their time--a little over 13 months in this case. Both Pruett and Fox have already been incarcerated for approximately 16 months. One possibility is that the judge will announce a split sentence allowing the pair immediate freedom, but ensuring they serve at least three years on probation.

Ashley Greenhill was not arrested with Pruett and Fox. She also had quite a record unlike the other two. We're not sure how a Colbert County judge will handle her sentencing, but we hope she can in some way be made to serve at least a longer probationary period.



Shoalanda