Pregnant Woman and Four Others 'Viciously' Murdered in Alabama Home by Mississippi Man: Reports
A 27-year-old man has been charged with killing five people, including a pregnant woman, early Saturday morning in Alabama, police say.
Derrick Dearman, of Mississippi, allegedly killed the victims at a home in Citronelle using guns and several other weapons. He then allegedly kidnapped a woman and a 3-month-old baby before surrendering to police in his home state, WALA reports.
"In … a 20-year career as a prosecutor, I have never seen a scene where there were five people brutally and viciously murdered. That's what we have here," Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich told WALA
The victims include Robert Brown, 26; Chelsea Reed, 22; Joseph Turner, 26; Shannon Randall, 35; Justin Reed, 23, NBC News reports. Chelsea was five months pregnant.
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Police in Citronelle received a call about a trespasser on the property at around 1 a.m., but responding officers did not find Dearman at the home, according to NBC. Between 1:15 a.m. and sunrise, Dearman allegedly returned and attacked the victims while they slept.
Authorities told NBC news that one of the multiple weapons used in the attacks was possibly an ax.
A 4-month old boy survived the attack, CNN reports. Police reportedly found the infant in the home after the killings. It is unclear whether the boy was injured.
Dearman allegedly let the kidnapped woman and baby go free before surrendering at the Greene County Sheriff's Office, according to CNN. The pair are reportedly safe and in good health.
Extradition proceedings were expected to begin immediately and Dearman will be charged with six counts of capital murder, CNN reports. Investigators are working to determine Dearman's relationship to the victims. It is unclear if he has retained an attorney or if he has entered a plea.
