Names released in Citronelle murders
08/21/2016 10:25 pm PDT
By Brittany Otis, WPMI
CITRONELLE, Ala. -- (WPMI) -- According to Lori Myles with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, on August 20 at approximately 4:45 p.m., Mobile County Sheriff's Office responded to 17160 Jim Platt Road in Citronelle on a homicide of five confirmed deceased.
Citronelle Police Department requested the assistance of MCSO. Citronelle Police stated a woman named Laneta Lester arrived at their office early Saturday afternoon, and informed them that her boyfriend, suspect Derrick Dearman, murdered multiple people at the address on Jim Platt Road. Citronelle Police responded to the location and verified her account. During the same time frame, Dearman, walked into the Greene County Sheriff's Office to turn himself in and cooperate with authorities. Below is an account of the events that took place on August 20 based on interviews conducted by GCSO and MCSO of Derrick Dearman and Leneta Lester.
MCSO said on August 19, Lester went to stay with a relative at 17160 Jim Platt Road, in an attempt to leave an abusive relationship with Dearman. At approximately 1 a.m. August 20, someone inside the residence called 911 to report Dearman being on their property. Citronelle Police responded to the call, however Dearman left before police arrived.
Between 1:15 a.m. and daylight, Dearman returned to the residence on Jim Platt Road. Dearman unlawfully entered the residence and attacked the victims while they were sleeping. Inside the home were six adults and one 3-month-old infant. Several weapons were discovered at the scene and may have been used as murder weapons.
Following the murders, Dearman forced Lester and the 3-month-old infant, belonging to one of the murder victims, into a vehicle at the residence. All three drove to Mississippi to the home of Dearman's father. Once they arrived, Dearman released Lester and the 3-month-old. Dearman and his father went to Greene County Sheriff's Office to turn himself in. Lester and the 3-month-old went to Citronelle Police to give her account of the murders that took place early Saturday morning.
Dearman will be charged with six counts of murder. One of the victims, Chelsea Reed, was 5 months pregnant with a boy at the time of her death. Below are the names of the victims:
1) Robert Lee Brown
2) Chelsea Marie Reed (5 months pregnant)
3) Justin Kaleb Reed
4) Joseph Adam Turner
5) Shannon Melissa Randall
All six will be capital murder charges. District Attorney Ashley Rich has confirmed they will begin extradition process immediately.
FULL STORY: Names released in Citronelle murders - WPMI