Carlos Stephens Guilty Of Destiny Washington Murder

Carlos Stephens UAB

Former University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football player Carlos Stephens has been found guilty of capital murder in the death of Destiny Washington. According to court documents Carlos Stephens girlfriend arranged a meeting with Destiny Washington boyfriend over a pair of AirPods however the transaction did not go smoothly. Carlos Stephens girlfriend did not attend the meeting.

Carlos Stephens would argue the money was counterfeit and Destiny Washington’s boyfriend believed the AirPods were fake. Carlos Stephens would pull out a gun and fire striking and killing Destiny Washington. Carlos Stephens would turn himself over to police two days later and would found guilty of capital murder. Carlos Stephens will be sentenced in May 2022 where he will receive a life sentence without parole.

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A former UAB football player charged in the slaying of Birmingham nursing student Destiny Washington was found guilty Tuesday.

Jurors, after almost two days of deliberations and at one point telling the judge they could not agree on a verdict, convicted 24-year-old Carlos Stephens of capital murder.

The jury late Monday afternoon indicated they appeared to be deadlocked on reaching a consensus. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Kechia Davis then issued an Allen charge, sometimes called a dynamite charge, telling jurors to keep deliberating.

They returned at 9 a.m. Tuesday to resume deliberations and returned the guilty verdict before noon.

Sentencing is set for May 18. The only sentence Carlos Stephens can receive is life in prison without the possibility of parole

Stephens’ family was allowed to embrace him following the verdict.

“I’m totally disappointed,’’ said Stephens’ attorney, Emory Anthony.

Prosecutors said they were pleased with the verdict.

“We are very grateful for the jury’s attention throughout the entire week of trial and their careful review of the evidence presented,’’ said Deputy District Attorney Ashley Patterson. “We hope that this verdict provides closure for the family and friends of Destiny Washington and that they are able to begin the healing process.”

Destiny Washington, a beloved 20-year-old nursing student, was shot to death at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in the parking lot of UAB’s student center on University Boulevard.

The deadly shooting happened during the sale of a pair of AirPods that Washington’s boyfriend was selling to Stephens’ girlfriend, a deal that had been brokered through Facebook Marketplace earlier that day.

The transaction went sour amid accusations of counterfeit money and fake AirPods and ended with a deadly shot fired by Carlos Stephens.

Carlos Stephens, a former standout football player at Thompson High School who went on to play at UAB his freshman year, surrendered to police two days later.

He has remained in the Jefferson County Jail without bond since Dec. 21, 2020.

Carlos Stephens is represented by attorneys Anthony and Bobby Lendell Davis.

Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Jessica Hebson prosecuted the case with Patterson.

The trial began one week ago, and the courtroom was packed throughout the week with about 1 ½ dozen family members each of Washington and Stephens.

Prosecutors contended Carlos Stephens should be convicted of capital murder in Washington’s death, calling it a senseless, unreasonable and unnecessary act of violence. They indicated to the jury that they believed Stephens was angry that Washington’s boyfriend was 30 minutes late arriving to their meeting and angry at what followed – which included Keyuntae Moultrie trying to sell Stephens a pair of fake AirPods, raising the previously agreed-upon price and then accusing Stephens of paying with counterfeit money.

Stephens’ attorneys, however, claimed their client fired in self-defense only after Washington’s boyfriend pulled a gun on him and threatened to “blow him away.”

In opening statements of the trial, prosecutor Hebson walked jurors through the events of that night, saying that Moultrie had bought in bulk several sets of AirPods to sell at a profit as he and Washington were trying to get extra money to spend over the holidays.

Moultrie, Hebson said, advertised the AirPods on Facebook Marketplace, an advertisement to which Stephens’ girlfriend, Victoria Roberts, responded to that Thursday night.

They arranged to meet at the UAB student center for Roberts to buy the AirPods for $90.

When Moultrie arrived at the designated location, however, it was Carlos Stephens waiting for Moultrie and Washington, not Roberts.

The two talked briefly and then Stephens handed Moultrie a $100 bill, and took the AirPods, asking Moultrie if they were real or knockoffs from China.

Hebson said Moultrie had a handgun in his jacket pocket, a gun that was registered and for which he had a permit.

She said Moultrie believed the $100 to be a fake. He tossed it back into Stephens’ car and “snatched” the AirPods out of Stephens’ hands.

“Mr. Moultrie watched as Mr. Stephens reached down to get a firearm,’’ the prosecutor said. “As Mr. Stephens was reaching, Mr. Moultrie began backing away from the car with his hand on his pocket where his gun was.”

She said Moultrie got into his car and as he was driving away, Stephens leaned out the window and fired a single shot.

“She was a young and strong and healthy woman, but nothing could be done,’’ Hebson said, “because that bullet that was fired was a .350 Legend – a hunting round – and it went straight through the license plate, straight through the passenger’s eat and straight into Destiny Washington’s back.”

Anthony, however, painted a picture of a different chain of events that night and revealed that Moultrie was the first to pull a gun that night. Moultrie had previously told detectives his gun was in his jacket pocket the entire time.

“How do we know this?” Anthony said. “After two years, he (Moultrie) finally told (Birmingham police Det. Kristopher Hatcher) on March 21, 2022. When he talked to (the detective) on Dec. 18, 2020, he didn’t say anything about pulling his gun out.”

“They waited almost two years to talk back with Mr. Moultrie and he said he had the gun out and was backing up with the gun,’’ Anthony said. “Mr. Moultrie, not my client, is the first person that pulled a gun. Mr. Moultrie was upset, and he told my client, ‘I will blow you away.’’’

“My client never pulled a gun on this man until after he pulled a gun,’’ Anthony said. “We have taped statement from Mr. Moultrie. He knew he was the cause of this. He was the gun that pulled the gun out and started this.”

Stephens took the stand in his own defense, calmly and confidently testifying for roughly 1 ½ hours Friday, the final witness to take the stand in the week-long trial. He frequently asked jurors if they could hear him OK and tried to make sure they understood what he was saying or showing them on a video screen in the courtroom.

He said after the failed transaction, Moutrie pulled his handgun out of his jacket pocket and threatened him.

Stephens said he put up his hands as Moultrie, still holding his gun, went back to his car, watching Stephens the entire time.

Stephens testified that his gun – a Ruger AR pistol – was in the backseat during the incident. He said he retrieved it as Moultrie walked back to his car and put it in his passenger’s seat. He said Moultrie then pulled his car closer to Stephens’ car and pointed a gun at him

“I grabbed my gun, put my left hand over my face and shot a warning shot,’’ Stephens said. Testimony showed the bullet went through the license plate and back seat of Washington’s vehicle before striking her in the back.

Stephens said he wasn’t aware Washington, or anyone, was in the vehicle with Moultrie until after the transaction and said he then only saw a “figure” in the passenger’s seat.

Stephens said he then headed back to his mother’s house, tossing the AR pistol out of his car somewhere near Green Springs. Asked why he got rid of the gun, he said, ‘’I had just shot at somebody.”

He said he had to be at work at Fed Ex at 1 a.m., but when he got to work, he fell asleep in his car and didn’t wake up until daylight, missing his shift.

He went inside to pick up his check, and that’s when he said he learned that Washington had been shot and killed.

“I didn’t want to believe it was true,’’ he told jurors.

He said he told his family what happened, and then turned in his rental car because he planned on turning himself in to authorities and wouldn’t be needing a car.

He did so the following day at the UAB Police Department.

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2022/04/former-uab-football-player-convicted-of-capital-murder-in-shooting-death-of-birmingham-nursing-student-during-sale-of-90-airpods.html

Christopher Madison Pleads Guilty To Amberly Barnett Murder

christopher madison

Christopher Madison has plead guilty to the murder of 11 year old Amberly Barnett. According to court documents Christopher Madison was living beside a relative at Amberly Barnett, where the 11 year old was staying, Madison would bring Amberly into his home where she was murdered. The next day Amberly Barnett.body would be found behind Christopher Madison’s home and blood was found inside of Madison’s bathroom. Christopher Madison was initially facing the death penalty however by pleading guilty to the murder he received a reduced sentenced of life in prison without parole.

Amberly Barnett.

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Christopher Wayne Madison today pleaded guilty to capital murder in the 2019 strangling death of 11-year-old Amberly Barnett.

Madison, 36, of Cedar Bluff, entered the plea in DeKalb County District Court today, a little more than three years after the girl’s death.

He was sentenced to life without parole, according to court documents. Prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty.

A trial had been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barnett disappeared March 1, 2019, Madison was charged in Barnett’s death the day after her body was found behind his house.

He was living at the time next door to the girl’s aunt, at whose home Barnett had been staying when she disappeared.

Madison claimed he saw a dark Dodge Durango pull into the driveway at Barnett’s home.

But neighbors said they never saw the vehicle, and other evidence contradicted Madison’s story about the SUV.

On the night Barnett was reported missing, Madison claimed he had searched a wooded area behind his home without finding any sign of the missing girl, an investigator testified in 2019.

Hours later, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office found Barnett’s strangled body at first light, lying in the woods with a blue rope around her neck.

Inside Madison’s home, investigators found a bloodied pair of his jeans in the dryer. There was blood in the bathroom sink and on the walls, mattress, bed frame and a sheet of paper in a bedroom.

https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-man-pleads-guilty-to-capital-murder-in-2019-slaying-of-11-year-old-girl.html

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The man that was arrested and charged with murder for killing 11-year-old Amberly Barnett pleaded guilty in a DeKalb County Courtroom.

On Thursday morning, Christopher Wayne Madison entered a guilty plea. He was given an immediate sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole

Initially, the state was seeking the death penalty against Madison.

According to reports, the family requested prosecutors to accept Madison’s guilty plea, in hopes of sparing them from having to endure the graphic evidence that would be presented during the trial.

Madison was arrested in 2019 during the investigation into the death of Amberly Barnett. The 11-year-old’s body was found in a wooded area, just 200 yards from Madison’s home.

Barnett, who was from Georgia, was visiting her aunt – a neighbor of Madison’s. Amberly was reported missing on the evening of Friday, March 1, 2019. Her body was discovered around 6:30 the following morning. An autopsy would show she was strangled.

An investigator with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at the time testified that Madison told them he had searched the woods near his home, but couldn’t find Barnett.

Investigators say that’s exactly where they found her, though, with a blue rope still tied around her neck.

Madison’s girlfriend reportedly told investigators that the same blue rope had been in their home. During their investigation, authorities found a clamp and bolt in the floor used in “bondage” activity, along with blood spatters and more rope wrapped around Madison’s knife.

Madison was arrested that Saturday evening on a drug charge and booked into the DeKalb County Jail.

Online court records show Christopher Madison was indicted for the murder on June 2, 2021. Several delays in the trial were brought on by the pandemic, and the case continued to be pushed back.

March 2022 marked three years since Amberly’s death.

https://whnt.com/news/northeast-alabama/guilty-man-sentenced-for-murdering-11-year-old-girl/

Famous Twins Consuela and Allie Jones Shooting Caught On Live

Consuela and Allie Jones Famous Twins

The Famous Twins, whose real names are Consuela and Allie Jones, have been arrested following a shooting that was caught on Facebook Live. According to police reports the Famous Twins were seen on video firing gunshots that left two people injured. For some reason the Famous Twins aka Consuela and Allie Jones were not charged with attempted murder charges. If you have never heard of the Famous Twins they are a pair of sisters who are famous thanks to TikTok and Facebook. For whatever the reason they decided it would be good for their image to put all of their dirt on Facebook Live and other social media platforms

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A pair of Mobile twins who are TikTok famous were arrested Thursday after they allegedly fired guns in a local park, wounding two people, including a teenage girl, police said.

The incident at Maitre Park was livestreamed, which Mobile’s top cop surmised was intentional and done to gain social media clout, according to Fox 10.

Consuela and Allie Jones are known as the Famous Twins through their handle @fam0us.twinsss on Instagram and TikTok, where they have a million followers.

Following a fight in Maitre Park, a livestream showed a woman firing gunshots as the crowd scatters, according to Fox 10.

A 16-year-old girl and a woman were injured from the gunfire and were expected to be O.K., the outlet reported.

Mobile Metro Jail records showed the twins were charged with second-degree assault in connection with the incident.

Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine told Fox 10 he hopes the livestream leads to more tips about the incident, although he said he was “disgusted” by it.

Prine said he believed cell phone cameras may have been rolling to help the twins gain even more of a following on social media.

“I think that it’s important to note that maybe in that particular incident that the video was intentional, and it was to gain attention. Either for social media or for some sort of reward whatever the case may be,” Prine said. “It seems like especially with the younger generation, they solicit some type of following or gathering from these types of incidents. But nevertheless, that’s an unfortunate incident, but the video certainly aided in developing the identity of the suspects as well.”

For one half of the Famous Twins, Thursday’s arrest was not their first brush with the law.

Consuela Jones, also known as Sway Bentley, found herself in Mobile Metro Jail in September on a slew of charges, including second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, pistol carrying with a permit, second-degree domestic violence and burglary.

The charges were filed following a fight between her and her sister.

https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2022/03/tiktoks-famous-twins-arrested-for-allegedly-opening-fire-in-mobile-park-in-livestreamed-incident.html

Johana Suarez Murders Boyfriend With A Car

Johana Suarez

Johana Suarez is a woman from Florida who was arrested for murder after she ran over her boyfriend with a car. According to police reports Johana Suarez and her boyfriend Henry Hernandez were on a cross country trip when the two were involved in an argument in Alabama that ended with Johana running over Henry with the car and killing him. Now Johana Suarez is sitting in a jail cell in Alabama charged with murder. Apparently the argument was over directions as the two could not read a map

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 A woman from Miami is accused of running over and killing her boyfriend on Interstate 10 in Mobile County.

Investigators said Henry Hernandez was walking east on I-10 around 5 a.m. Sunday when he was hit by a car driven by Johana Suarez.

Mobile County Sheriff’s Office told FOX 10 the couple was traveling from Miami to California and spent the night in Mississippi.

Early Sunday morning, the two hit the road again, but mistakenly drove in the wrong direction, heading east on 1-10.

After an argument, MCSO said Hernandez voluntarily got out of the car with his belongings. Suarez began to drive away, only to turn around, driving west in the eastbound lane to strike him head-on. Hernandez died instantly.

MCSO said a passing car dialed 911. All airbags in the car were deployed, and Suarez was still at the scene when deputies arrived.

Suarez is charged with murder. According to MCSO, she sustained no injuries and is being held without bond

https://www.fox10tv.com/2022/03/06/one-person-struck-killed-early-sunday-i-10-mcso-investigating/

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Deputies say what was thought to be a traffic accident in Grand Bay turned out to be an intentional, violent act.

Investigators say Johana Suarez intentionally ran over her boyfriend Henry Hernandez Sunday morning after the two got into an argument.

Hernandez got out of the car and began walking.

Deputies say the suspect turned the car around, went the wrong way, and intentionally hit him.

“All the airbags were deployed in the vehicle, so we’ll be able to get a lot of information from the vehicle once the computers download it as far as you know.. the speed, impact, one of the troopers on the scene, having a lot of experience working a lot of traffic accidents, he estimates around 60 miles per hour when the victim was struck,” said Captain Paul Burch.

Hernandez died at the scene.

Suarez was arrested and charged with murder.

No other cars were involved in the collision

https://mynbc15.com/newsletter-daily/mcso-woman-charged-with-murder-after-running-over-boyfriend

Hunter Tatum Faces Death Penalty In Pregnant Wife’s Murder

hunter tatum

Hunter Tatum who was facing murder charges for the death’s of his wife and unborn child will now face capital murder charges as the prosecutors are planning to seek the death penalty for the double murder in Alabama. According to police reports Hunter Tatum would shoot and kill his wife Summer Tatum who was six months pregnant at the time. The baby was alive briefly however would die in hospital. According to reports the houses security camera caught the couple arguing and the murder with Summer Tatum begging for her and their unborn child’s lives. Hunter Tatum would be arrested and charged with the double murder.

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Hunter Tatum, of Prattville, now has a charge of Capital Murder in the shooting death of his wife, Summer Knight Tatum, and her newborn son Everett. The upgrade was announced today by Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson after the case was presented to an Autauga County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury found probable cause to pursue the charge. An arraignment date has not been set as of this report.

Robinson says his office plans to seek the death penalty.

In October of last year, Summer was six months pregnant with her infant son when she was shot twice in the back of the head in the Prattville home she shared with her husband, Hunter Tatum. Both she and her baby died after being transported to Baptist South Hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries. Everett was born alive and placed in the NICU, where he died a short time later.

Initially, Hunter Tatum was given a cash only bond of $400,000. However, with the Capital Murder charge now in place, he is being held without bond in the Autauga Metro Jail. He has remained in jail since shortly after the shooting, which was investigated by the Prattville Police Department.

Tatum has had three attorneys in this case, but his attorney of record currently is Jay Taylor.

In a previous court hearing on the original murder charges, Hunter Tatum was noticeably shaking as a Prattville Police Department investigator detailed how he found the victim shot in the head in the back bedroom of the couple’s home on Sunset Court. The defense revealed that the security system in the Tatum house had cameras pointed at the back door and that the couple’s argument and the murders can be seen on video, although partially obscured, through the cracks in the blinds.

Robinson said next door neighbors also have a video camera on the back porch that picked up clear audio of the argument and the crime.

Robinson said there is no evidence that Hunter Tatum attempted to render medical assistance to his wife or his child.

As with any capital murder case, this could be a lengthy process.

“This was not an argument that went too far, it was an evil act that ended in the murders of two people,” Robinson said last year.

Summer Knight Tatum posted about her pregnancy and her excitement in meeting her then unborn son, on social media prior to her death. Many photos document her relationship and marriage to the suspect in her death.

Earlier in October, Summer wrote on social media, “We are on to our next adventure, and we’re more than halfway there! We had our anatomy scan last week and everything looks perfect so far. There were just a few things not visualized so we get to have another look in a couple of weeks. I am so blessed by this pregnancy, but it has been HARD, and at this point I can only assume it’ll be that way to the end.  We are so excited to meet our baby BOY.”

Summer Tatum worked as a registered radiologic technologist. She was just 26.

Robinson explained that the capital murder charge is justified because Hunter’s alleged actions not only resulted in two deaths but the heinous act in which they allegedly occurred.

“To me, if we are going to have the death penalty exist, it has to be for cases like this. We are tasked with speaking for the victims who cannot speak for themselves. We represent the weak, and we are talking about an unborn child. To me there is not a better description for that than with this case. The child did absolutely nothing wrong. Some may dispute the charge of murder for an unborn child. But to me there is no controversy, no gray area. This child was 100 percent a person.”

Robinson said, “As with any case, we evaluate the truly cruel, atrocious and heinous crimes. This case has that. We have been in communication with Summer’s family and we will continue that communication throughout the process. This has been a very difficult time for them.”

Robinson said he has seen some truly evil cases, but “It is hard for me to remember one that shakes me to the core like this one. This is as real as it gets. It is completely cold blooded and how can anyone do that?”

https://elmoreautauganews.com/2022/03/07/capital-murder-das-office-to-seek-death-penalty-in-case-against-hunter-tatum-for-death-of-wife-infant-son/