Laurel Pruett & Matthew Fox Back in Court

Thursday saw two of the four defendants in the Amanda Taylor case back in court. Laurel Pruett (pictured right), along with Matthew Fox and Ashley Greenhill are accused of helping admitted killer Ronald Weems dispose of Taylor's body--in legal terms, abuse of a corpse and hindering prosecution.

Pruett sought a reduction in bond. Not surprisingly, Colbert Judge Jackie Hatcher refused. A reader has informed us that Pruett has undergone a transformation of sorts since her arrest; but with no family in the Shoals, she is considered a flight risk.

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Matthew Fox, now 21, requested that he be given youthful offender status. Fox (pictured left) was 20 when he assisted in disposing of Taylor's body at the request of Ashley Greenhill.

Judge Jackie Hatcher will rule on Fox's request June 3rd. We're predicting the Florence man won't receive that coveted designation. The Colbert County District Attorney's office is opposed to the request, especially in such a high profile crime. Many states use the age of 18 as a cut-off date for youthful offenders, and Fox was close to his 21st birthday at the time of his crime.

For information on the youthful offender classification, see post on Autumn Marie Wood: Link

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Ashley Greenhill did not join her fellow conspirators in court. It remains possible that the part-time stripper may be tried as a habitual offender. Greenhill and Pruett have court-appointed attorneys, while Fox's family is said to have hired a lawyer to represent him.

Related post:

The Killers Three



Shoalanda

New Franklin CoC Director/Life for Ashley Greenhill?

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce received 18 applications for the position of director, interviewing seven candidates. The position reportedly will pay between 30K and 40K, depending upon experience. Considering the economic climate in Franklin County, we're surprised there weren't more applicants, but we don't know how widely the opening was posted.

How did the chamber eliminate the 11 who weren't interviewed? There could have been many deciding factors, but we're going to rule out education, since the new director lists only a 1991 diploma from Russellivlle High School. More importantly, of the those interviewed, how did the chamber come to select the 38 year-old small business owner?

Tomorrow: Cassie Carol Lindsey Medley

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Several readers have asked how long Ashley Fawn Greenhill will serve for her part in the cover-up of Amanda Taylor's murder. These are the applicable laws in Alabama...

Abuse of Corpse: 

(a) A person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if, except as otherwise authorized by law, he knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities. Abuse of a corpse may include knowingly and willfully signing a certificate as having embalmed, cremated, or prepared a human body for disposition when, in fact, the services were not performed as indicated.
(b) Abuse of a corpse is a Class C felony.

Hindering Prosecution:

(a) A person commits the crime of hindering prosecution in the first degree if with the intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for conduct constituting a murder or a Class A or B felony, he renders criminal assistance to such person.
(b) Hindering prosecution in the first degree is a Class C felony.

Maximum Sentence:

With this conviction, the sentence is no less than two years and no more than twenty years. If firearm or other deadly weapon is used the minimum sentence is ten years. Fine is no more than $5000.

Conclusion:

Matthew Fox, Ashley Greenhill, and Laurel Pruett could all face a sentence of 20 years. Their previous criminal records, if any, would be taken into consideration. Ashley Greenhill has at least three previous felonies (one violent). She could possibly be tried as a habitual offender and given a life sentence--either with or without parole.

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Why wasn't Ronald Eugene Weems indicted for Capital Murder? Our guess is the district attorney's office felt the autopsy/forensic report on Weems' victim Amanda Taylor did not prove rape as has been speculated in some circles; neither could any actual robbery be proved. That effectively ruled out  a Capital Murder indictment.

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The ShoalsInsider has reported that Ashley Greenhill's two children are no longer living with her parents, but are in foster care. The father of Greenhill's younger child remains in prison. We don't know if Greenhill has relinquished all claims to the children, but doing so could possibly win her some small favor with the state. These two children deserve much better than they have received up until this point.



Shoalanda

Ashley Fawn Greenhill Indicted

Ashley Greenhill, aka Ash Lette

Ashley Fawn Greenhill has now joined Ronald Wikkid Weems, Laurel Pruett, and Matthew Fox (Fudoshin) as one of the accused in the Amanda Taylor murder case. A Colbert County grand jury indicted Greenhill, who uses the stage name Ash Lette, for hindering prosecution and abuse of a corpse. 

Sources say the stripper from Killen remains in the Muscle Shoals jail with bail set at 250K. Sources further stated Greenhill has not been transported to the Tuscumbia City Jail, where Colbert County's female prisoners are housed, in order to keep her and Laurel Pruett separated. Both women were sometime girlfriends of Weems, and Greenhill turned in the other three in an effort to avoid prosecution.

We may now wonder why Laquania Weems, Ron's mother, was not similarly indicted and arrested. Perhaps the grand jury felt a mother's love is blind?

Related posts:

The Killers Three

Ashley Fawn Greenhill

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A related comment from "Heather" on the PYSIH site:

I actually attended Brooks High in Florence with Ashley Greenhill… And hung out with her on a daily basis until I moved back to my hometown in Ga. We were all huge fans of ICP back then but I figured we would all grow out of it. I know I did. Woowww. What a crazy thought. I am really just in disbelief to see her on here but I don't guess I should be... 

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NOTE: We have received an unconfirmed report that the charge of "murder" was dropped against Matthew Fox. Fox was not in the Moss Avenue home at the time of the murder and was unaware of the crime until contacted by Ash Lette.

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We'll continue with our series on the new director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce tomorrow.

Shoalanda

Juggalos Face March Indictment/Navistar News

Ronald (Ron Wikkid) Weems & Laurel (Chubbylette) Pruett

Sources in the Colbert County District Attorney's office state the cases against Ronald Weems, Laurel Pruett, and Matthew Fox will be presented to a grand jury in March. Ostensibly, the February docket was full; however, we hope this also means co-conspirator Ashley Fawn Greenhill will have been arrested in the interim. The family of murder victim Amanda Taylor needs as much closure as possible.

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While Navistar has yet to make an official announcement concerning the exact product to be manufactured in the former National Alabama plant, we've received reports that 50 workers have recently been added to the force and 50 more should join them by the end of the month. The first series of classes for new job recruits is scheduled to begin January 24th at Northwest Shoals Community College.

We're still hearing that the Navistar facility will be producing parts for the MaxxPro military vehicles. If so, it's sad that war is the driving force bringing an upturn to Shoals economy, but we're nevertheless thankful for the much needed boost.

Related post: Military Contract for Navistar Barton?

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Call it Rogers Hall or call it Courtview, its beauty is undeniable. This 1907 photo postcard can be yours for $19.90 on eBay: Link



Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Deal for Ashley Fawn Greenhill? - Part I

By the time Ashley Fawn Greenhill met Clint Matthew Anderson, she had a child and he had a felony conviction. Together they lived on the north end of Howell Street in a bungalow that had seen better days.

Pregnant with Clint's child, Ashley had given guardianship of her two year-old son to her parents, but sometimes brought the child into the home she shared with her then boyfriend. After one such visit, Ashley's parents noticed bite marks over much of the boy's body, along with scratches over his lower back and extremities. The Greenhills immediately reported the child's condition to DHR, and both Ashley and Clint were arrested.

At the time of Ashley Greenhill's arrest for Felony Torture of her child, she was out of jail on bail for charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and receiving stolen property. Her bail revoked, the 21 year-old Ashley agreed to enter drug rehab and was given leniency by the courts. Clint's parole was revoked, and he was returned to the Alabama Department of Corrections where he remains incarcerated at a facility called the Cattle Ranch. He's scheduled to be released on September 9, 2014.

By the fall of 2011, Ashley was 24 and enrolled in classes at NWSCC studying to be a hair dresser. Her online profiles describe her as a model, but acquaintances stated she worked as a stripper. The portrait to the left was posted online ten days before the murder of Amanda Taylor. On the networking site, Ashley has one contact--"Rob Noxious."

Needing a home, Ashley asked fellow Insane Clown Posse groupie Ron Weems for a place to stay. Weems allowed the young woman to move into the Muscle Shoals home he shared with his widowed mother, but later commented on Facebook that Ashley was a "roach" who had brought other vermin into his house. Whether he referred to Matthew Fox, we may only surmise.

By now Laurel Pruett, the mother of Ron Weems' four year-old daughter, had moved into a home in Sheffield. While Laurel was a frequent visitor to the Moss Avenue home she once shared with Ron, friends have said theirs was an open relationship and many believed him to be involved sexually with Ashley.

Tomorrow: Part II - The Cover-Up

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Several readers have asked what yesterday's preliminary hearing for Ron Weems actually decided. The hearing only established that there was enough evidence against Weems to present the case to the grand jury. The next grand jury meets January 9th, but our opinion is District Attorney Bryce Graham will wait to hone his case. The indictment shouldn't hold any surprises, but will resolve what specific charges Weems, Pruett, and Fox will face. Certainly Amanda Taylor's family is hoping for an indictment of Capital Murder. Any time served in jail awaiting trial will be counted against Weems' sentence should he be convicted--almost a foregone conclusion.

Weems' attorney may ask for other hearings concerning the introduction of evidence or change of venue after the indictment. There can be other delays in trying the case due to backlogs at forensic testing centers. In other words, a July trial is not guaranteed and may be overly optimistic. By no means did Tuesday's preliminary hearing end the legal battle to bring justice for Amanda Taylor's family.



Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Ron (Wikkid) Weems: He's Just a Juggalo

"I know that they've been together. I don't know how often or how long." Ron Weems' mother when asked about a physical relationship between her son and his victim.


This afternoon, District Judge Chad Coker will have the unenviable displeasure of looking Ronald Eugene Weems and Matthew Richard Fox in the face for the second time. It should be pretty cut and dried for Fox; either Judge Coker will reduce Fox's bail or not. Fox has made some horrendous choices in his life the past few months, but we doubt he will be indicted for Felony Murder. We're very interested in how Chad will handle this case.

As for Ron (Wikkid) Weems? Today's hearing ostensibly will decide if the State has enough evidence to indict. Well...there are the confessions of all three defendants.

The most interesting issue to be decided in the near future will be the verdicts of the January grand jury. Will the state wish to indict Weems for Felony Murder or go for a Capital charge? Does the State have grounds for a Capital Murder indictment?

Click for Larger Image

Laurel Pruett's confession indicated Amanda Taylor's body was lying on the basement floor with her jeans and underpants removed. It's not a stretch that the prosecution will contend Weems killed his former sister-in-law during an attempted rape. Laquania Weems has stated her son had a previous physical relationship with his ex-wife's sister--rape might be hard to prove. The difference? If indicted and convicted of only Felony Murder, Weems would at some point be eligible for parole. Even so, we doubt that Amanda Taylor's friends and family would fail to protest the release of this Juggalo gigolo.

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What others are saying about Ronald Eugene Weems:

Of course the question is going to come up if the ‘music’ of ICP caused Weems to kill. As much as I deride Juggalos the music does not cause anyone to kill. It’s more of case of people with violent tendencies being drawn to their music. - Nationally known blogger Trench Reynolds

If guilty, this cornfed moron must have lived under a rock for the past decade or so, because he obviously missed the part about forensic testing. - Crime writer Chelsea Hoffman

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Congrats to UNA on their rehire of Bobby Wallace. The university's board can do something right...



Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

Hearing for Amanda Taylor's Killer/Tuscumbia Lustron History

January 3rd will see Ronald Weems and Matthew Fox in court. It's been reported that Weems has asked for a preliminary hearing. Legal sources say the murderer of Amanda Taylor and his attorney may ask for all or portions of the confession to be declared inadmissible, as well as a change of venue. Fox will be requesting a reduction in his 500K bail.

Sources close to Laurel Pruett (pictured) say she's not requesting bail reduction since none of her family lives in Alabama. We have had conflicting reports as to the custody of Pruett's four-year old daughter, but a second source has confirmed the child remains with Weem's mother in Muscle Shoals. DHR has reportedly petitioned to have the daughter removed.

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The Tuscumbia Lustron Home As I Remember It

A Guest Commentary By

Jim Smith

I lived at 705 East 4th street at the time the house was erected. I was the paper boy to everyone in the east end of town so I thought I had to see and know about everything that was going on.

The Catholic Church was on the corner of East Street and 4th. In the earlier years there was a Catholic School and living quarters on the corner of Hickory and 4th.

Sometime around 1948 0r 1949, they decided to build a new Rectory behind the church. It was decided to be a Lustron House. At that time Lustron produced and shipped all steel enameled houses.


The site was prepared and the parts and pieces arrived. A wrecker came to unload the steel parts. They stacked the steel parts and boxes of screws, bolts, etc., along the curb in front of the house. Each part was numbered and much time was spent as they sorted and found the right pieces. Each part had a certain screw or bolt for that section. I was allowed to pick up these things at the end of the day and wish I had saved some of them.

As the house took shape, it was easy to see that once the last screw was in place, it would be ready to live in. Everything was enameled in the color that had been chosen.

I don't remember how long it took them to finish but it did not seem very long. One thing that stands out now as I look back is the fact that there were no fancy electric or air tools as we know them today. Everything was screwed or bolted by hand.


There was some discussion among the workers about not having a back door because of concern for the Priest. Access to him was very limited outside of the Church. I will drop by the site to check this out once the ground dries up and the weather gets better.

This type of house was supposed to be the next best thing to sliced bread as far as technology was concerned. Not only was it pre-insulated, it was designed to last a long, long time. This is evidenced by the one we see off of Woodmont Drive. Even though the years of neglect are showing, I am sure it is in a lot better shape than a wood-frame house would be after all this time.

I don't know the whole story of the company but there are references to bad business decisions and other problems. There does not seem to be problems with the houses themselves. Can you imagine what your house would look like 60 years after it was built had it been neglected and not maintained?

Thanks to Mary for finding it and to everyone for providing the opportunity to tell about it as I remember. Also, thanks to everyone who loves Tuscumbia as much as I do for your interest in saving and preserving as much of our history as we can.

THIS WAS ONE TIME WHERE A meets B and Y met Z that everything came together.

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Colbert County native Jim Smith is the author of Walk Through Town (with me as a ten year-old boy). It can be found on Amazon and at several local book stores. Link





Shoalanda

Comments welcome. No profanity. No vulgarity. No libelous statements. Get it? Got it! Good...

What Was Matthew Fox's Involvement in Amanda Taylor's Death?

Matthew Fox

No matter what we may think of those involved in Amanda Taylor's death, they are not all equally guilty. The following is from Luke Stanfield, a close friend of Matt Fox:

He was at my house when the murder took place. we got the text from Ashley at my house asking how to dispose of a body. we didn't believe her and laughed it off and told her what we had seen in movies and on csi and criminal minds. once we knew it was real we told them to call the cops. he left my house later that night around 1am-2am. where he went after that i don't know. but i do know he wasn't there to kill or dismember her. if we had known it was real to start with we wouldn't have even said anything to her about how to "dispose" of the body. She told fox that, at the time, her unnamed roommate had been attacked and killed her in self defense.

I now know that fox went over there after he left my house. but he was lied to about the situation. I guess he didn't know what to do because a man he didn't know just killed someone and had cut her up when he got there so out of fear for his on life he said nothing and did nothing. I can see why he would fear for his life after seeing some guy you don't know killed some one he knew, what would keep him from killing a complete stranger.

We have no reason to believe that this is not true; however, Fox remained silent for over five weeks. He will have to answer the charges for that.

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From D.K.:

The Times Daily wrote this morning in the Amanda Taylor case the 3 defendants would have their first court date some time today. I drove over to Colbert Co. to find out that it happened Friday.

If there is going to many (at the trial) have a system to make sure first Family and then close friends have a reserved area for them so not to be left out in the halls, of course I guess then the defendants would have to have a place or room for them, not that very many at all will be there for their support.

It very well may happen in this case, with all reports and news of this, I can see a possible motion to ask for a Move, and it just may be granted with this one, more so with the one (Weems) charged for Murder.

D.K. is always more than willing to help any family that has lost a loved one to crime and violence. Often families are not ready for his help, but we hope they know he will be there for them when they are.

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The attempted murder trial of Jon Thomas Wallis begins today in Lauderdale County. Wallis, currently serving a sentence for drug trafficking, will be tried for the attack on his wife. Jurors were selected yesterday, and testimony will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Wallis is currently serving his time in the Lauderdale County Jail, with a release date of April 29, 2014. Assuming (and hoping for) a conviction in this case, he should be transferred to a state facility within 30 days.

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From Alaina Burgess of the UNA Paralegal program:

The University of North Alabama is sponsoring a General Law CLE on December 16, 2011, on the campus of the University of North Alabama. The CLE is approved by the Alabama State Bar, and will contain 6 credit hours, with 1 hour of Ethics. Special Guest Instructors include Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judges Terri Thomas and Terry Moore; and Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Samuel Welch, Judge Liles Burke and Judge J. Michael Joiner.

The cost is only $99 and lunch is provided!

We hope to see you there!


Shoalanda

The Last Ten Minutes of Amanda Taylor's Life

Ron Weems, aka Ron Wikkid, aka Stark Raven

Ronald Eugene Weems has admitted to strangling Amanda Leeth Taylor, using a nylon strap. Such deaths are called ligature strangulation and usually require a great amount of physical strength to commit. Victims are often those who can't fight back due to their size or physical condition, e.g., women, children, handicapped, or elderly. Weems had scratch marks on his arms, so we know Amanda fought back--at least at first.

Nylon Strapping

In order to commit ligature strangulation, Weems would have to overpower Amanda, then quickly tighten the nylon ligature. A healthy woman, Amanda may have been able to breathe for as long as one minute. It would then take as much as five minutes for her to die due to oxygen deprivation.

In all, it may have taken Ronald Weems seven to 10 minutes to subdue and kill Amanda. This was no crime in which a gun was hastily picked up and fired. Ronald Eugene Weems, aka Ron Wikkid, acted deliberately and forcefully to take Amanda Taylor's life. He did so in the basement of his Moss Avenue home with his mother and small child sitting upstairs, oblivious to the ongoing violence beneath them.

Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor

This is how Amanda Taylor's life ended. If this isn't Capital murder, we don't know what would constitute the crime. Weems and two others charged in the death will appear before a Colbert County judge sometime today, a judge who will appoint Weems an attorney. We don't envy any lawyer charged with defending Juggalo Ronald Weems.

ICP Tattoo Weems Acquired around November 24th
Five Weeks after Murdering Amanda Taylor

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Ashley Fawn Greenhill, aka Ash Lette
Pictured at 2008 Arrest for Felony Torture of her Child

Several have asked why Ashley Greenhill, aka Ash Lette, was not arrested as an accessory after the fact, especially since both Laurel Pruett and Matthew Fox were. For whatever reason, aspiring model Greenhill had become concerned that Amanda's body would be found, or that someone, possibly Fox, would go to the police. She decided to cut a deal with the authorities, stressing that she had heard about the killing only accidentally. Our sources say the three defendants will dispute Greenhill's version of the events, but it remains to be seen if she will be charged.

We have to ask how the participants in this mangy menage found each other. We know Laurel Pruett was so desperately in love with Ron Weems that she wouldn't let him go, even knowing the worst. Was Matt Fox similarly enthralled by Ashley Greenhill? If any of these cases comes to trial, it will obviously be standing room only.


Thought for the day: Have you ever viewed a movie that was so bad, not only did you not care what happened to any of the characters, you actually hoped something bad would?

Shoalanda

Mystery Man Matthew Fox is "Fox Fudoshin"

"Fox Fudoshin"

"Fudoshin" is a Japanese word meaning immovable heart. It's also a type of jujitsu. Apparently Matthew Fox was so taken with the word that he used it as his professional name. Formerly a bouncer at the defunct Seven Points Sound music venue, the UNA student was working for Arx Mortis in October, more specifically on the night of October 17th, the alleged night of Amanda Taylor's murder.


While Fox and Laurel Pruett have been charged with murder along with Ronald Weems, they would appear to be accessories after the fact. No matter where Matthew Fox was at the time of the murder, he helped dispose of the body. Our sources say both Fox and Pruett can expect a sentence of 10 to 15 years for their parts in this heinous crime.

We will have an update on Laurel Pruett tomorrow.

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Big doings at ECM? We understand that RegionalCare will hold a press conference at 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Will they be announcing the new location of a regional hospital? A new CEO? The purchase of their media yes-man, the TimesDaily? Stay tuned...

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Don't forget the candlelight vigil in memory of Amanda Taylor tonight at 7:00 on the Colbert County Courthouse lawn. We would appreciate any photos our readers might send.



Shoalanda

The Killers Three: Ronald Weems, Laurel Pruett, & Matthew Fox

Ronald Eugene Weems, 33, aka Ron Wikked, is a self-professed Juggalo, or follower of Hip Hop group Insane Clown Posse. The Muscle Shoals resident lived with his mother, 61 year-old Laquania Delores Welch Weems at 609 Moss Avenue in Muscle Shoals where the murder of Amanda Leeth Bailey Taylor took place. Also living in the run down home was Weems' latest girl friend, who sources say tipped off the police to the location of 32 year-old Taylor's dismembered body. Weems was often seen in costume complete with sword.

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Laurel Ann Pruett, 35, aka Chubby-Lette, a former girlfriend of Weems, lived in Sheffield with her "wife." Pruett, who had a child with Weems, has alternately described herself as straight and bi-sexual. She lived on Robertson Boulevard in Sheffield with her "wife." A member of the OkCupid dating site, she revealed in her profile last visited November 30th:

I'm a mommy, and I'm a juggalette. I'm bipolar, and alot of different things. I like things around me to be neat and orderly, but I let that slip alot. I'm pretty laid back, although time makes me bolder to speak out. I play D&D, old school style. I can play some Guitar Hero. I love Luna Online. I'm a girlie girl, but I'm not afraid to get dirty. I like to play outdoors, but I don't like hikes, long walks on the beach, or hunting. ~ I have a platonic wife. She's a major part of my life. ~ I'm best friends with my ex (my babydaddy, as it were lol). He'll always be a part of my life since we have a wonderful child together, and we parent her together. ~ I'm not looking for a serious relationship, although I never know when I'll meet someone I like that much. ~ I don't like to be used, and I don't use others.

Things have changed so much in the past months. Right now I have joint custody of my daughter. My wife and her 2 children also live with me. I'm rebuilding who I am, sorting out what I like, meeting more people.

I'm not perfect.

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Matthew Richard Fox, 21, of Florence, is something of a mystery man in the mix. The son of Richard M. Fox and Miriam Gail Fox, he lived in the Beechwood Subdivision off Cox Creek Parkway. According to reports in the TimesDaily, it was Fox's idea to dismember Taylor's body.

Now all three have been charged with murder. Three children in Arkansas no longer have a mother and a little girl in Sheffield has both parents facing possible capital murder charges. We have to believe alcohol or other drugs played a large part in this murder. If not, this trio of thugs is not worthy of the cost of housing them the rest of their lives.



Shoalanda