Jeremy Williams Gets Only Felony Murder?!

Jeremy Williams, a man who had no job but did have domestic violence convictions, kills another man by shooting him once and stabbing him 68 times. He then disposes of the body by attaching it to cinder blocks and dumping it off a bridge. His punishment? At most it will be Life With the Possibility of Parole.

Williams stole from his victim, Brioni Rutland, making his crime a capital offense. The jury could have convicted the Florence man for that crime, but chose a lesser one. Their rationale? We have no idea.

We do know that in Limestone County Joel Moyers unintentionally (he claimed) fired into a moving truck, hit someone he didn't know, someone he said he didn't mean to hurt, and was convicted of Capital Murder. Rhyme or reason? There is none.

Well, none if we don't consider the "who you know" angle...

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Shoalanda

No Justice for Joel Moyers?

Joel Moyers died on Thursday before his appeals process was even begun. We don't count the first appeal which is always heard before the original trial judge--another strange Alabama law that keeps us in the dark ages. We were especially looking forward to more information on alleged juror misconduct at the trail. Will we ever have it?

It's possible. Moyers' family can possibly continue with lawsuits against the state. It's a risky and expensive business. We have to ask if the Murray/Hydrick families now feel they have their revenge?

The Death of Brandon Hydrick

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The world lost a great musician with the death of Allen Toussaint earlier this week:

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Shoalanda

Corruption at Joel Moyers' Trial

It seems that the list of oddities related to the Limestone County capital murder trial of Belle Mina man Joel Moyers just keeps growing and growing. Now a juror has come forward reporting that the case was discussed outside the jury room and he felt coerced into voting guilty. What does the county prosecutor say?

Brian Jones says it's smoke and mirrors. What might not be smoke and mirrors is that Jones and company insisted on the judge making rulings on issues while Moyers was too ill to attend the proceedings. A defendant in a capital murder case (or any other murder trial as far as we know) is allowed to be present at all proceedings if he so wishes.

From the Athens News Courier:

In his affidavit, Gilliam claims that after deliberation grew heated, jurors asked to break for lunch. He said five jurors, including the jury foreman, went to Zaxby’s restaurant. When they returned, one of the jurors sat next to Gilliam on a bench and told him: “Stay calm, we talked about it at lunch and we got a better plan maybe to help you out.”

He said he returned to the jury room angry and asked the other jurors, “So, what is y’all’s great scheme that y'all have come up with?” He said the other jurors could tell he was upset, so they backed away and didn’t explain what the plan was (to get him to vote for capital murder.) He said the five jurors admitted they had talked about it at lunch while at Zaxby’s.”

The above are just two of the new issues brought to light by Moyers' defense attorneys. The hearing will continue on September 1st. No matter what you may think of Moyers' guilt or innocence, remember that if the State of Alabama can strip him of his constitutional rights, they can strip you of yours.

Maybe even bus you to pick cotton...

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And that wonderful paragon of innocence Ronald Weems will one day have a parole hearing—our unfairly administrated laws a work. Weems' cohorts in crime, Laurel Pruett, Matthew Fox, and Ashley Greenhill will be completing their sentences in October. Yes, in less than two months.

Greenhill had already left the area before her arrest. Will she now return here? Pruett has a child here that was never officially permanently taken from her custody. She also has family in the Carolinas where things may now be looking better for her. Matthew Fox? His family lives here, and we assume he will be welcomed back at his old job, a horror-house grave digger. Remember? He was the one described as someone who knew how to dispose of bodies.

While we hope the three are now able to lead peaceful, productive lives, we hope that their reappearance will not be thrown in the face of Amanda Taylor's family.



Shoalanda

It's Who You Are at CCHS?/Sober Civility?

From a concerned Colbert County parent. The communication has been edited to remove names of minors:

As you may have read in the Times Daily there was some vandalism to the Colbert County High School that was discovered on April 27 . It was a "senior prank, gone bad". There were somewhere in the range of 14-15 seniors that were involved. Of those seniors some had never been in any type of trouble before and one was even the CCHS 2015 Homecoming Queen. These students have been placed in alternative school for the remainder of the year, with ALL senior activities stripped, even walking at graduation. In the Colbert County School Handbook this activity is a Class III offense.

On May 8, there was a fight that occurred between 2 girls from the softball team (Miss CCHS and a sophomore) that had stemmed from several weeks of bullying from teammates (whole different story). One of the 2 girls fighting was 18 while the other was 15. The 15 year olds mother was called immediately to pick her child up, while the senior was allowed to stay at school until 6th period. Mr. Satchel informed the mother of the 15 year old that the punishment would be 15 days alternative school and having to take exams. This is also classified as a Class III in the Colbert County Handbook. On further conversation the 15 day alternative school QUICKLY turned to 5 day suspension without consulting the board members.

On Tuesday, May 12 the mother of the senior posted on her personal facebook page that her daughter would walk at graduation. She would graduate with HONORS, she will keep her crown and IS next in line for Homecoming Queen since the crown has been taken from the former HCQ for the school vandalism. 

 
If you will look at the facebook post of (offender) you will also see that the principle, Mr. Stachel's wife, Mrs. Gail Satchel will be found in the comment section of the post, who is also a superior in the Colbert Count School System.

If both offenses were Class III, why is it ok for each to be punished differently according to WHO you are dealing with?

This parent has presented some interesting questions. We've previously posted similar stories from Florence, Muscle Shoals, and UNA. We personally support strong punishment when it's called for. We do not support favoritism and nepotism. We welcome any replies.

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Some time ago we read a post on a local forum in which a learned gentleman stated the death of Treyvon Martin could have been prevented if he and George Zimmerman had only acted civilly toward each other. We agree.

It seems forensic testimony in the Joel Moyers trial has indicated victim Brandon Hydrick was three times over the limit for intoxication in this state or had at least .24 BAC (well on his way to alcohol poisoning). He knew the shooter Moyers by sight and according to Bronwen Murray often waved as he drove by Moyers' property. A few simple words of greeting would have prevented Hydrick's death. Brandon wasn't being rude; he simply was too drunk to respond to the situation. 

We preach about Spice and other illegal drugs, but compared to the misuse of alcohol, their impact is minuscule. Will this incident teach even one person to drink responsibly? We wouldn't bet one cent on it.

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Johnny Mack Morrow has basically called Phillip Pettus a liar...and this is a surprise to anyone? We only think Morrow should have pursued his claims against Pettus. 

It looks like several other representatives are also irritated with Pettus' behavior. We're wondering if the confabulating rep from Greenhill will be on any committees next year...

Shoalanda

The Berg, the Bash, the Bro, the Beard, the Bumpkin, the Babe, & the Big Shot

Background:  September 29, 2012: The Good & the Bad

Special Report from Crime Writer Nick Ireland

The Berg:

Belle Mina. Now that’s a classy name. Too bad this spot on the Limestone County map doesn’t live up to expectations. Nothing in Belle Mina but a few old houses and the occasional store. Then there’s the stream.

Land that borders on the small stream running through Belle Mina is marketed as water front property. Sure. If it rains enough. Just like my backyard.

Who buys these choice lots? Locals call them Yankees and that about sums it up. Families that work in Huntsville or Madison just love the prices on these backwoods hideaways.

The Murray family was no exception. The daughter, that’s the Babe to us, considered it the ideal spot to entertain her Huntsville friends. That’s just what she did on Friday, September 28, 2012.

The Bash:

It was billed as a Halloween party. No matter that it wasn’t even October. It was cool at night and just right for what passed as a country cookout. Wieners, marshmallows, and beer? Probably plenty of beer judging from the Hydrick family photos on Facebook. What else was served? You can be sure the state’s pathologist knows what was in Brandon Hydrick’s system when he died.

The bash ended around midnight. Guests began to go their separate ways and the Beard (B. Hydrick) took the Babe back to her parents’ front door. The Babe says the date ended with a chaste kiss.

Then the Beard drove off into eternity.

The Bro:

The Beard’s brother Ryan wasn’t even close to him in looks. Doesn’t seem to have had as good a job either. You can bet your pickup truck that he was only invited to the Babe’s bash because he was the Beard’s brother.

The Bro left in his own vehicle when the Beard exited the cookout. What happened between midnight and three o’clock Saturday morning is anyone’s guess. The Bro knows, but he’s not giving out any of the details to the Beard’s adoring fans and mourning friends.

The Beard:

Brandon Hydrick often sported a bushy beard. Yeah, doesn’t sound too kissable, does he? But apparently the Babe was so taken with him that she picked him up at a charity run in Huntsville. The Beard was younger than the Babe and didn’t quite travel in the same social circles, but hey, a good man is hard to find.

Friends thought this relationship would go the distance, but it ended that Saturday morning when the Bumpkin put a bullet through the Beard’s chest.


The Bumpkin:

Joel Moyers had lived in the same manufactured home since he was in grade school. He was now a rode hard 52 and had lived alone since his mother married the year before and moved to Cullman

The Bumpkin was afraid. The Limestone County sheriff stated there was little crime in the area, but actual reports say something else. Maybe there had to be a death before Mike Blakely considered it real crime He got that death early in the morning of September 29th.

The Bumpkin heard a truck around three o’clock. The Bro was now driving the Beard’s truck and they had returned to the scene of the cookout for reasons unknown. When the duo decided to turn around on the Bumpkin’s desolate corner, they made the mistake of their lives.

An SKS kept the Bumpkin company as he first followed them in his own truck and later marched toward the Beard’s vehicle in full confrontational mode. He flashed a light in the Bro’s face and told him to stop. The Bro hit the accelerator.

As the pickup passed the Bumpkin, Moyers raised the heavy SKS and fired. The question is where the Bumpkin aimed. Heck, maybe the question should be was he even strong enough to aim. His bullet traveled through the back of the truck’s tailgate, entered the cab, and finally juggernauted through the Beard’s chest. The Bro panicked and hit the accelerator again. He met with a tree that refused to get out of his way as he attempted to navigate a corner.  The Bumpkin retired to his home and called the sheriff.

The Babe:

Bronwen Murray was as yuppie as you get in Alabama. She was going places and picked up the Beard to tag along. Good men are hard for those bluestocking babes to find and lasso. Now her man was dead.

The sheriff originally charged the Bumpkin with a manslaughter type crime, but the Babe was having none of it. Where would she ever find a replacement, and her eggs weren’t getting any younger.

Don’t worry. The Babe had a trump card. She worked for the Big Shot. He’d handle it while she made the appropriate mewing noises to play the sympathy card.

The Big Shot:

Parker Griffith was a prominent Huntsville doc and a former U.S. representative. Easy for him to place a few well-chosen words in the ear of the Limestone County D.A. Yeah, the D.A. knew which side his political funding was greased on.

The indictment comes down, and the Bumpkin is charged with Capital Murder. Hey, it’s Alabama. Justice is still scarce and usually a political tool. Yeah, we call it JuJu man justice around this state.

The trial? It’s coming. Let’s grab the beer and popcorn. Okay, no beer. Limestone County is dry. Too bad the Bro and the Beard grabbed their beers; maybe they’d both be alive right now and the Bumpkin tatting a new doily for his mother.

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Editor's note: Testimony in the Joel Moyers trial this week indicated Brandon Hydrick was too intoxicated to drive at the time of the shooting, and Ryan Hydrick's BAC was. 07 three hours after the deputies arrived at the scene in Belle Mina. Moyers' BAC has not been revealed, if it was even tested.



Shoalanda

Joel Moyers Gets an Early Christmas Present

Joel Moyers, the Limestone County man accused of murdering Brandon Hydrick, has received an early Christmas gift--bail. Moyers has been granted bail by an Alabama appeals court and quickly bonded out of the Limestone County Jail. The decision to grant Moyers bail has produced some inflammatory comments from the Hydrick camp. Just FYI, it might not be a good idea to call the prosecutor and judge "f***ing idiots." The state's case is extremely weak, and we have previously predicted a manslaughter verdict as the most fitting.

Another word to the wise for the Hydrick family concerns the advisability of posting pics of the deceased drinking from "turkey feather beer bottles." We're sure Moyers' defense team will be using the autopsy toxicology report to cast doubts on Hydrick's innocence in the whole unfortunate chain of events.

We never advocate suicide for anyone and hope that Mr. Moyers has received psychological help since his earlier attempt. It simply doesn't make any friends for Hydrick supporters when they post comments concerning the possibility of Moyers being able to escape vengeance for Brandon's death. We're pretty positive the permanent results of suicide rank just a little above a prison sentence. We're also pretty sure vengeance and justice are two different things.



Shoalanda

"Is There Ever Justice in Franklin County?"

One of our readers asked that question of us, and presumably of anyone reading Facebook that day. Obviously there's never total justice anywhere, but we hope our system comes close. Alabama is strapped for funds, with some counties faring better than others. Franklin County is not one that fares well.

Then we have unfair laws (Read: Capital Cases) and juries who come from such diverse backgrounds that finding peers of defendants is almost impossible in some cases. It's not going to change anytime soon, but we can all lobby for what we believe to be fair.

We can't ask a prosecutor in a relatively minor case to continue if the victim won't testify. Sad, but true. We do think a prosecutor should forge ahead in a rape/murder case even if the victim's mother supports her daughter's killer. Apparently not everyone agrees.

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In Franklin County, we will see the sentencing of Hershel Dale Graham on Friday. The admitted killer of David Martin Andrasik has been free much too long, but it's not that rare. It's simply most don't notice the slowness of the mills of justice until it affects their families.

Our petition to Judge Terry Dempsey will be presented to him tomorrow. We're hoping for the maximum of 20 years for Graham. He wanted to know what it would feel like to kill someone; now he needs to know what it feels like to be incarcerated miles away from family and friends (if he has any of he latter).

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Meanwhile in Limestone County...the Capital Murder trial for Joel Moyers is scheduled for September 9th. Will it start that day?

It's not likely. There's a 91-page docket with 268 other cases scheduled to be heard that day. Perhaps they'll skip lunch?



Shoalanda

Weems & Moyers: Our Legal System is Flawed

We've been reading several comments on the Ron Wikkid Weems murder case, and it appears many think Weems could face the death penalty. Sorry, folks, Weems is charged with Felony Murder, not Capital Murder. Why?

We should all ask that. Surely the Colbert County District Attorney could have added attempted rape to the list of charges Weems faces. According to Weems' mother, he and Amanda Taylor had at one time been lovers, yet at this point it's not just a rape case, but a murder. The charge would have insured Weems was tried for Capital Murder and faced either death by lethal injection or life in prison. As it stands now, Weems will be eligible for parole and probably make it at some point.

In Limestone County we have a man who lived alone and was afraid of the thieves and vandals who had been frequenting his lonely stretch of road. When Joel Moyers saw suspicious activity, he attempted to stop the vehicle in which Brandon Hydrick was a passenger. As the driver sped off, Moyers fired one shot.

Here the story becomes much more nebulous. Moyers states he tried to fire over the vehicle, using a rifle that weighs at least nine pounds and probably as much as twelve. The Limestone County District Attorney says Moyers deliberately fired into the truck. Now Joel Moyers is charged with killing a man he'd never met...not out of anger or for money or any other personal reason. Why?

Yes, why is Ronald Weems not charged with Capital Murder and Joel Moyers is? Our hodge podge of Capital Murder crimes needs to be revamped, but it won't happen until the public demands it.

Related post: Alabama Capital Crimes

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There will be an appeal of the David Riley murder verdict on April 23rd. Riley was convicted of shooting liquor store clerk Scott Kirtley during a robbery. We understand it's just a formality. Like Ronald Weems, Riley is best kept off the streets. Unlike Weems, he's awaiting death by lethal injection.

While on the subject of revamping laws, why may the defense bring up any past indiscretion of the victim, but the prosecution may not enter most past arrests of the defendant into testimony? Shouldn't we bar such testimony on both sides?



Shoalanda

Bail Fails/More Most Wanted

We've previously discussed the wide disparity in charges involving murder in Alabama: Capital Punishment Charges Not Administered Fairly. Now we're adding the bail/no bail conundrum to our list of "things that make no sense."

Yesterday we blogged on murder suspect Angel Campos, charged with Capital Murder, receiving a bond amount of 500K. Campos is a man with a lengthy record of domestic violence. He's accused of beating and stabbing his estranged wife to death--quite a vicious and personal crime.

Today we've read that a Limestone County judge has refused Joel Moyers bail. Moyers has no record, shot a man he had never met and held no animosity toward, and claims he was simply attempting to stop a suspicious vehicle.

If you, gentle readers, heard of these two cases, which one would you select to have bail? Campos or Moyers? It's not really difficult, except apparently in Alabama.

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We've recently added a link at the top of our blog to the Most Wanted section of Pen-N-Sword. The Quad-Cities Daily also has a new Most Wanted section. Be sure to check out both of these; you might earn some reward money...and who wouldn't want that?

Shoals Most Wanted

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So how much did the plans for the Railroad Bridge fetch? Four bidders participated, and the winning bid was $107.50. Now that's some dedication to history...or bridges.

Shoalanda

September 29, 2012: The Good & the Bad

As we have said of many previous incidents, only three entities have any first-hand information as to the events on Fennell Road on the morning of September 29th--Joel P. Moyers, Ryan Hydrick, and God. There are others who have commented on various facts relating to these events, and we're going to present our research here, without comment. The only purpose of this particular blog is to clear up several misconceptions that have been reported in social media.

Where did the shooting take place? The press has alternately referred to the Fennell Road/Fennell Lane location as being in either Belle Mina or Tanner.

The area in question is on a Tanner post office route, but is closer to Mooresville, Greenbriar, and Belle Mina (a community not even large enough to merit a listing in the above map).

Above is an enlarged map of the area showing actual placement of Moyer's trailer and approximate placement of the Murray property (not to scale). Long segment is Fennell Road; short segment is Fennell Lane.

What kind of event took place on Friday, September 29th?: There was an early Halloween party given on the Fennell Lane property belonging to Bronwen Murray's parents. At the party were Bronwen, Brandon and Ryan Hydrick, and an unknown number of friends. The party involved a campfire near Piney Creek and concluded a little before midnight.

What did the three do after the party ended? Brandon Hydrick, 26, took his girlfriend Bronwen, 33, the short distance to her parents' home where she was spending the night. Brandon was driving his own small truck and was alone after leaving the Murray residence. At 3:00 on Saturday morning, Ryan, 25, was driving his brother's truck, and Brandon was a passenger.

Where did Brandon and Ryan spend the three hours?: Bronwen has stated she doesn't know, and no one has come forward with any explanation.

How well did the two brothers know the area?: Brandon was very familiar with the area, having visited the Murray home many times. Ryan was only slightly familiar with the area.

Was the area crime-ridden?: Limestone Sheriff Mike Blakely has stated he didn't consider the area  prone to crime. In the 15 months before the shooting, there had been two felony thefts, one assault, and one drug trafficking arrest on Fennell Road/Lane. This does not take into account misdemeanor crimes involving vandalism and petty theft. None of those arrested lived in the immediate area.

Where did Joel P. Moyers live?: Moyers, 52, lived alone in a trailer at the corner of Fennell Road and Fennell Lane. He was reportedly raised there and has been documented as living there the past 40 years.

How many neighbors lived in the area?: A writer for the Decatur Daily, Ben Montgomery, has described the area as having only "a handful" of houses scattered on the two roads.

Did the neighbors know each other?: Montgomery has stated all the neighbors knew each other, but not necessarily well.

What did the neighbors think of Joel P. Moyers?: Neighbor Jeannette Troupe has stated, "he never gave us no kind of trouble." Neighbor Ida Milon called Moyers "a real nice guy," and stated she never felt threatened by him. Bronwen Murray has stated, "I have heard throughout the years that he is a dangerous person and that he is unstable." Murray didn't offer any names for the report.

What kind of gun did Moyers have?: The last update from the Limestone District Attorney's office lists the gun that killed Brandon Hydrick as an SKS-45, an assault rifle originally produced in the Soviet Union in 1945. Older models with a chrome bore are known for inaccuracy in hitting the intended target.

Did Ryan Hydrick see Moyers when he tried to stop them?: Yes. Both Moyers and Hydrick have stated Moyers used only a flashlight to get the brothers' attention. When Ryan Hydrick saw Moyers' gun, he stepped on the accelerator and didn't stop until he wrecked a short distance away on Fennell Road.

Is Joel Moyers' mother wealthy?: Until recently, Moyers' mother lived with him in the trailer on Fennell Road. She had also reportedly lived in the small dwelling for over 40 years. Individuals using social media and comments on Shoalanda have asserted the value of her home in Cullman on County Road 226 is between 400K and one million dollars. The home is not on Smith Lake, but near Simpson Creek, a tributary of Smith Lake. A Bing map shows the home as being located away from the creek and having no frontage to any body of water.

Who tipped off Joel Moyers that he had been indicted?: It's now believed a local Huntsville station obtained news of the indictment from Alacourt.com. This incident has spurred calls for a change in site security.

When will Moyers be tried?: Moyers is scheduled to be arraigned later this week. At that time a court date will be set. The trial can then be postponed by either the prosecution or the defense.

Shoalanda

The Sad Case of Joel Moyers

Often we want all crimes to be cut and dried. We want justice served, but we don't want to think too much about it. Yes, people can make mistakes in a micro-second and ruin the rest of their lives. We're not talking about the Brewer brothers, but Joel Moyers (right) of Limestone County.

Moyers was living on Fennell Road near the small village of Belle Mina. He lived alone and had been the victim of several crimes, apparently ranging from trespassing to vandalism to theft. Moyers wasn't the only householder who had been targeted and he decided to be ready for the next time.

September 28, 2012, was a Friday night, and Ryan and Brandon Hydrick were partying with friends. By the time the brothers left the rural camp belonging to the parents of Brandon's girlfriend, it was early Saturday morning. At best they were tired; at worst they were less than their normal selves; and most assuredly they were lost. After turning down Fennell Road, Ryan Hydrick turned onto Fennell Lane, a dead end.

The brothers were unaware they were observed by Moyers, who could think of no good reason for the strange truck to be turning down a short road with no outlet. He picked up his gun and walked outside. Moyers waited until the truck returned to Fennell Road and shined a spotlight on the vehicle to get a good look at the tag number.

For whatever reason, Ryan Hydrick panicked and stepped on the accelerator. As the truck passed Moyers, he lifted the 60 year-old Korean War era gun and shot one time. Moyers states he shot into the air in an attempt to stop the pair. No matter where Joel Moyers says he fired or thought he fired, the bullet passed through the tail gate of the truck, striking 26 year-old Brandon Hydrick in the back.

Ryan Hydrick continued to speed down Fennell Road before losing control of the truck in a heavily wooded area. Moyers followed in his truck, but later returned to his home to wait for officers he knew were coming. When the officers arrived they discovered Brandon Hydrick was dead.

Last week a Limestone County jury indicted Joel Moyers for Capital Murder. When he learned of the indictment, Moyers took an overdose of pills and is currently in a Cullman County hospital on life support. It's not certain Moyers will pull through--it is certain he will be taken to jail and tried for Capital Murder if he does.

This was Ryan Hydrick's reaction to the news of the indictment: So i've been working third shift this week, because of that i slept till 10 tonight. Woke up to some rather insanely good news. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Hope that f*cker lives a long life of getting c*cks in the ass!!!!! Don't drop the soap b*tch!!! HAHAHAHA!!!

Now, we ask our readers, should Joel Moyers be tried for Capital Murder* when Ronald Weems will face charges of only Felony Murder? Where is the logic? More importantly, where is the justice?

* Due to the shot entering Ryan Hydrick's truck.



Shoalanda