Memorials for Victims

Criminal Details

WSFA.com
Bryan Henry - 2008

21 years ago Judith Henton got the call that changed her life forever.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," Henton said.

The call that her daughter 17-year old Cynthia Dykes had been found dead. The high school sophomore was found on a dirt road, beaten and strangled. Dykes had a flat tire just 8 miles from home but she never made it home. Henton is convinced a stranger saw an opportunity.

"I pray for him. I don't hate him. I just want justice for my daughter," said Henton.

Even though Dykes' grave has yet to reveal its secret, Judith Henton has found a reason to hope again. WSFA 12 News has confirmed the Cold Case Homicide Unit with the Alabama Attorney General's office has agreed to re-open the case but the AG's office wouldn't say what that decision was based on.

"It has to do with evidence but I better not say what it is," said Henton.

21 years later Judith Henton still has no idea what the motive was, no clue as to who would kill her youngest child.

Two years after the murder, a friend of Cynthia Dykes was tried in court but he was acquitted.

Cynthia Michelle Dykes had dreams of becoming a nurse. Today, her mom has dreams of finding justice that's eluded the family for so long. A $10,000 reward is being offered in the case.

ScaredMonkeys.net
Nut44x4 - April 14, 2009

The Office of the Alabama Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit has recently received a request from Barbour County Sheriff Larry Upshaw to review the unsolved murder of Cynthia Michelle Dykes. Her death occurred on March 11, 1987, near the town of Louisville, Alabama. MissDyke’s body was discovered in the early morning hours on Old Robertson’s Mill Road. She died asa result of asphyxia. Miss Dykes’ vehicle was discovered 8 miles east of Clayton on AlabamaHighway 30. It appeared that Miss Dykes had apparently experienced problems with her vehicle.The Cold Case Unit requests that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact the Attorney General’s Investigations Division at (334) 242-7345.

Criminal Details

No criminal details found.

Memoriam

AndalusiaNews.com
Kendra Majors - Published 1:58 am Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Family mourns 2-year-old, seeks healing prayers for hospitalized twin

Cpl. Robert Armstrong was killed when the patrol car he was driving was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Ross Clark Circle while he was working an overtime DUI enforcement detail at 4:30 pm on January 19, 1985.

The drunk driver was driving the wrong way on the four-lane divided highway when the collision occurred. Both Cpl. Armstrong and the drunk driver were transported to a local hospital where both died of their injuries. The suspect had previous DUI arrests.

Cpl. Armstrong had served with the Dothan Police Department nearly seven years. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Source: View DothanPD.org Memoriam

The Dothan Eagle
Mark Young - August 23, 2006
View Wiregrass.com forum

Note: Forum post indicates this is an article from The Dothan Eagle but no link was found.

OZARK - John Charles Spellman is back behind bars as he sits in the Dale County Jail awaiting possible extradition to Florida.

Spellman made headlines in October of 1984 for his arrest in the 1983 kidnapping and murder of Cynthia Wuolukka. He was subsequently convicted of murder in September of 1985. After 18 years in prison, Spellman was released on an overturned conviction. Despite the release of Spellman in the 1983 murder case, a grand jury indictment remains active, meaning the state of Alabama possesses the right to retry Spellman at any time.

Spellman’s most recent troubles began on March 16 when he was arrested in Panama City, Fla., and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of GHB, otherwise known as the "Date Rape Drug."

Spellman bonded out of jail and is still waiting to face those charges. He found himself back behind Alabama bars after a police officer discovered during a routine traffic stop that warrants had been issued for him in Bay County, Fla., for non-related charges.

He was pulled over in Level Plains for a traffic violation on Aug. 20, and according to Geneva/Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams, Spellman provided a false name to the police officer, giving the name of Terry Spellman.

"Upon further investigation, Level Plains police discovered that it was not Terry Spellman and he was charged with providing a false name to law enforcement," Adams said. "They investigated further and found that it was John Charles Spellman and that’s when they discovered the warrants on him."

The current warrants are not related to the possession charges Spellman is facing, but are out of Bay County, Fla., in connection with charges of aggravated stalking, burglary of a residence, and violation of a protection order.

Adams did not confirm who the alleged victim is in the current warrants, but did say that all three crimes involved the same victim. Spellman’s most recent girlfriend filed the protection order against him.

Last spring, Spellman’s wife, (Angela Tess Spellman) was reported missing and later found dead. A grand jury did not bring an indictment in that case due to a lack of determination as to the cause of death because the decomposition of the body had reached a point where a cause of death could not be determined.

Spellman faced District Court Judge Stan Garner Jr. Monday morning, in the Dale County Courthouse, for a first hearing regarding his extradition to Florida.

According to Adams, Spellman immediately began professing his innocence, at which time Garner informed him that it was not the right time for admissions of guilt or pleas of innocence.

Garner was simply presiding over an extradition hearing, informing the suspect of his rights and concluded the hearing by matching Florida’s current $30,000 bond and setting another hearing in 30 days to review Spellman’s status.

Spellman has the option to fight extradition, which will ultimately leave him in the Dale County Jail for an unforeseen length of time, or he can cooperate fully with Florida law enforcement officials, at which time he will be transported back to Bay County to face the charges against him.

Garner will also review Florida’s action in 30 days to ensure they are either acting on the extradition or not. Adams said that the last information he received was that Florida was already initiating the extradition process.

Other News Links

March 20, 2006 - View GadsdenTimes.com article

September 9, 1986 - View Justia.com case law text

Criminal Details

The Dothan Eagle
Matt Elofson - May 5, 2011

Debbie Griswold watched her father’s burial on her 16th birthday after a gunman shot him to death during a convenience store robbery.

But she and her family recently received the first taste of justice after Dothan Police Chief Greg Benton announced charges in the near 30-year-old murder of Ernest Russell Douglas.

At the age of 45, Douglas was shot at the Northview Amoco Station at 3033 Reeves Street on Sept. 26, 1981. Benton said Douglas died from his injuries on Oct. 7, 1981. Benton announced charges brought recently against a Dothan native in the murder.

“The arrest is a way of honoring our father and to bring justice for him,” said Lisa Doswell, one of Douglas’ children. “It’s a step in the right direction and we’re very grateful.”

Debbie Griswold said she hopes the charges filed in her father’s murder will help give hope to the victims in other cold case homicides.

“We’ve been praying for this for 29 years. It’s satisfying,” said Tim Douglas, another of Ernest Douglas’ children. “We still got a long road to go until we get a conviction, but we’re still praying. I had just turned 18 years old the day before, and he was buried on my little sister’s birthday.”

Benton said a Houston County grand jury returned an indictment this week charging 57-year-old Nathaniel Dennis with capital murder robbery. Benton said the indictment came after investigators received a hit in a national DNA database.

Dothan Police Sgt. Will Glover said a hit in the Convicted Offender DNA Index System helped identify Dennis as a potential suspect. Benton said police learned Dennis was already serving a prison sentence in Virginia.

Benton said that earlier this year investigators traveled to Sussex County in Virginia to interview Dennis. In March of this year, investigators received results from the state Department of Forensic Sciences that indicated a match with Dennis’ DNA to evidence collected from the crime scene in the murder. Benton and Glover said they could not identify the evidence tested that linked Dennis to the murder because he still needed to go to trial.

Glover said Dennis is currently serving a 634-year prison sentence for attempted murder and robbery in Virginia.

Criminal Details

The Elba Clipper
March 4, 2010

Thirty-one years ago on March 1, 1979, Coffee County Sheriff C.F. “Neil” Grantham was murdered in front of the Coffee County Jail.

On June 30, 1981 Billy Joe Magwood was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die. In 1985 he was resentenced to death.

Today Magwood remains on death row.

On March 24, 2010, the United States Supreme Court (USSC) will hear oral arguments on Magwood’s latest appeal. Attorney General Troy King, members of the Grantham family, and members of Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) will represent the State of Alabama and the family of Sheriff Grantham at the oral argument.

If the USSC rules in favor of the State, the appeals process will be over and the State will request an execution date. If the USSC rules in favor of Magwood, the case will return to the lower courts for more appeals.

ODMP.org
March 1, 2013

Sheriff Neil Grantham was shot and killed by a former prisoner as he arrived at the jail.

Sheriff Grantham ran into a former prisoner who was waiting outside the jail, parked in the sheriff's spot. The man shot the sheriff three times, then sped off to a relative's home, where he sat on the porch and waited for authorities. The sheriff was taken to the Elba General Hospital where he died of several gunshot wounds to the chest.

The suspect was convicted of the sheriff's murder and sentenced to death. In May 2007 the death sentence was overturned.

Criminal Details

ODMP.org
Unknown

Sergeant Robert Jackson was assassinated in the driveway of his home as he got out of his car at 2200 hours.

He was assigned to the narcotics division and it is believed he was murdered because of his work in arresting drug dealers. The suspects were never identified and the case remains open. Sergeant Jackson had been a member of the Dothan Police Department for almost seven years, and is survived by his wife and children.

The Dothan Eagle
Debbie Ingram - May 16, 2009

Robert Jackson, a narcotics officer gunned down in his driveway on Jan. 31, 1978.

Criminal Details

FindAGrave.com
Rick & Kat - July 7, 2010
View on FindAGrave.com

Quenette Shehane, 21, was killed on Dec. 20, 1976. She had just graduated Birmingham-Southern College. Her car was packed up and she was ready to head home to Barbour County.

She stayed in Birmingham for several days after graduation, working at Parisian department store, and when she left work that night, she went to her boyfriend's fraternity house for dinner. They needed salad dressing so she hopped in the car with some cash and headed to a nearby convenience store.

When she didn't return, her boyfriend began frantically calling around and driving around searching for her. When he couldn't locate her, he called police and her family. Her family drove up to Birmingham from Clio when they learned that she was missing.

WSFA.com
Lindsey Rogers - May 22, 2015
View Article on WSFA.com

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - A high-profile Alabama murder case is being featured on national television in an in-depth crime documentary.

The broadcast is shedding light on the impact the case has had on thousands of other victims of violent crimes across the state.

When Miriam Shehane heard that the Investigation Discovery channel's "On the Case with Paula Zahn" wanted to profile her daughter's murder case, her family embraced the opportunity and flew to New York City to be interviewed.

“I am so thankful that we were chosen so that her story can be told,” Shehane said.

It's a story of a beautiful young woman robbed of a bright future.

Quenette Shehane, 21, was killed on Dec. 20, 1976. She had just graduated Birmingham-Southern College. Her car was packed up and she was ready to head home to Barbour County.

She stayed in Birmingham for several days after graduation, working at Parisian department store, and when she left work that night, she went to her boyfriend's fraternity house for dinner to see him one last time before the holidays. They needed salad dressing so she hopped in the car with some cash and headed to a nearby convenience store.

When she didn't return, her boyfriend began frantically calling around and driving around searching for her. When he couldn't locate her, he called police and her family. Her family drove up to Birmingham from Clio when they learned that she was missing.

Quenette's body was found the next day, nude and frozen. She had been abducted from the convenience store, forced into her own car by three men. She was raped in her car as they drove around and then shot several times as she begged for her life. Inside her car, police ended up finding the salad dressing and two cupcakes she purchased for dessert.

“This is the most traumatic thing that I could ever think could ever happen to anybody. We were just a close knit family. We thought we had everything put together and then our world came crashing apart,” Quenette's mother said. “She had so much to offer and it angers me that she was not able to fulfill that.”

In 1990, Wallace Norell Thomas was executed by electrocution for Quenette's murder. He was caught robbing another convenience store with the same gun used to kill Quenette. His palm print was also found on her car.

Two other men were also charged in the case. Eddie Bernard Neal was sentenced to life without parole. After several trials, Jerry Lee Jones ultimately received a life sentence for the killing.

Shehane's family endured seven trials in five years involving the three suspects after a portion of Alabama's death penalty was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court and all three of their trials had to be done over again.

Jerry Lee Jones reported that on the night of the murder, Wallace Thomas picked them up and told them they were going to pick up a girl and "have fun" and the trio ended up spotting Quenette coming out of the store. Clerks at the store heard her scream, but said they thought it was college kids playing around and never went to check on things.

Ever since her murder and the daunting experience her family had in courtrooms, Quenette's loved ones knew they wanted to not only keep her memory alive, but also help others dealing with tragedies and fighting for justice.

They became instrumental in victims' advocacy, especially Miriam. She helped start V.O.C.A.L. (Victims Of Crime And Leniency) in 1982, helping reform victims' rights laws and assisting thousands of victims across the state.

“I did not want Quenette to be forgotten. That was my mission,” Shehane said. “I did not want her to be another statistic. I wanted people to know that she was a real person. She loved life. She lived every minute of her life to the fullest.”

V.O.C.A.L.'s headquarters in Montgomery is a refuge where victims and even witnesses can stay free of charge when they have to be in court or at parole hearings.

“Miriam has turned something extremely tragic in her and her family's lives into something wonderful for victims in the state of Alabama. I don't know where we'd be without V.O.C.A.L.,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey, who has worked with Shehane on cases for more than 20 years. “V.O.C.A.L. has done a tremendous amount to make sure that victims, especially homicide victims, are taken care of and that victims are respected in the court system and by those who make our laws."

V.O.C.A.L. has been a part of nearly two dozen bills over the years, including Alabama crime victims compensation, helping victims of violent crimes with various expenses, and the 1-1 jury strike, making the jury selection process fair between the prosecution and defense. Another law mandates that the parole board notify victims if the person convicted in their case is up for a hearing.

“Victims have some rights that they didn't have then,” Shehane said. “It's been very rewarding and it lets me know that what I have dedicated my life to has not been in vain.”

“Because of V.O.C.A.L., we can now have victims come into the courtroom and stay throughout the entire life of the trial. Victims are allowed to come at every stage of the proceedings and participate. They are required to get information about the case, to know their rights. V.O.C.A.L. has been there every step of the way fighting for legislation for victims,” Bailey added. “They provide counseling services to victims. They provide a hand to hold and someone to hug and someone who listens which is so important for the victims of crime.”

"Fatal Errand" will air Sunday at 9 p.m. on Investigation Discovery's "On the Case with Paula Zahn."

Miriam, along with her other daughter and the prosecutor who handled the case as well as Quenette's boyfriend will be featured in the episode.

Miriam hopes the broadcast will let more Alabama crime victims know that they have somewhere they can turn to as they cope.

“I don't think enough crime victims know that we're here. All of our services are free,” Shehane said. “I would like to tell other victims that things will move on. You can make out of life what you want to.”

Other News Links

July 14, 1990 - New York Times May 15, 2015 - Birmingham News May 11, 1979 - Justia.com