Landon Durham, 16, has been charged with capital murder. He will be charged as an adult, but the death penalty will not apply as he is under 18.
A teenage boy has been charged with murdering his mother and twin 13-year-old brothers.
Deputies responded to a home in Munford, Alabama, late on Tuesday, the Talladega County Sheriff's Office said. Inside, they found Holli Christina Durham, 36, and her sons Branson and Baron Durham dead after being stabbed.
Landon Durham, 16, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths, Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens said, according to
AL.com.
"This is the kind of crimes you see on TV or the media or the internet that happen in other places and for it to happen here, it really hits home," Giddens said.
"Munford, like all communities in this county, are pretty close-knit, and I know they're hurting, and we are, too," he added. "I'm not wishing this on somebody else but it's hard to believe these kind of things happen."
Giddens said he believes the teenager stabbed his family to death before he went to school on Tuesday, according to WVTM.
Landon Durham will be charged as an adult, but the death penalty will not apply as he is under 18, Gidens added. He is facing life imprisonment, with or without parole if convicted, the station reported.
The teenager was found and arrested at around 7.40 a.m. on Wednesday, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. He had been traveling towards Etowah County on County Road 71.
"The juvenile was apprehended at the store, across from Beans and Greens Restaurant, without incident," Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said.
Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said he didn't believe the community was in danger, but posted additional deputies at Munford schools as a precaution, AL.com reported.
"Investigators are actively following leads and processing the scene for evidence," the sheriff's office said in a news release on Wednesday.
"We are aware of several inaccurate postings on social media concerning this incident."
In an update, the sheriff's office added: "A person of interest has been detained for questioning. There is no known threat to the community at this time.
"This is an ongoing homicide investigation and no further information will be released at this time."
The Talladega County District Attorney and the Talladega County Sheriff's Office have been contacted for additional comment.
Source: newsweek.com, K. Rahman, January 23, 2020
Alabama teen slept, went to school after killing mother, twin brothers, authorities say
An Alabama teenager is accused of stabbing his mother and twin brothers to death, and then going to school the next day as if nothing happened, authorities said Thursday.
Landon Hudson Durham, 16, is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Holli Christina Durham, 36, Branson Durham and Baron Durham, both 13.
Investigators have released few details in the slayings but said the victims are believed to have been killed at 3 a.m. Tuesday inside their home. The suspect is believed to have then gone back to sleep for a few hours before going to Munford High School for the day Tuesday.
A family member had been trying to reach the family all day Tuesday but to no avail. That family contacted another family member and they went to the home where they found the horrific scene. They backed out of the house and called 911.
"It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen and I’ve been here for 19 years,'' said Talladega County Chief Deputy Joshua Tubbs. “It’s the worst thing I’ve seen in my career.”
"This really has the community shaken,'' Tubbs said. Authorities are not yet releasing a possible motive.
The boys’ father, as well as relatives of Holli Durham, declined comment. Landon Durham remains held without bond in the Talladega County Jail. He will make his first court appearance Friday morning in a hearing that is expected to last only a few minutes. A March 3 preliminary hearing date has been set.
Deputies responded to the house on Roy Lackey Lane late Tuesday, according to Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore’s office. When authorities arrived, they found the three victims.
A lookout bulletin for Landon Durham was quickly issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said deputies arrested the teen about 8:40 a.m. Wednesday traveling towards Etowah County on County Road 71, near County Road 38. He was taken into custody without incident at a store.
“This is the kind of crimes you see on TV or the media or the internet that happen in other places and for it to happen here, it really hits home," said Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens. "Munford, like all communities in this county, are pretty close-knit, and I know they’re hurting, and we are, too ... I’m not wishing this on somebody else but it’s hard to believe these things happen.”
Dr. Suzanne Lacey, Superintendent of Talladega County Schools, sent a statement about the triple homicide. “Last night, we learned of a tragedy in the Munford community. Like any small town, when tragedy strikes it affects the entire community including the school community,” she said. “Our focus is to support the school family during this difficult time. We have additional counselors available to provide a helping hand and listening ear to our Munford students and staff.”
The warrant against the teen states only that intentionally killed the victims by stabbing them with a knife. A preliminary hearing – at which time any evidence against him will be made public – is scheduled for March 3. Court records do not list an attorney for Landon Durham.
Source:
al.com, Carol Robinson, January 23, 2020
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