CULLMAN — After more than a month of investigation, an arrest has been made for the November murder of J.T. “Jimmy” Hayes, 72, of Fairview.
Christopher H. Ledbetter, 37, of Boaz, has been charged for the alleged murder of Hayes.
Ledbetter was Hayes’ son-in-law, and served as a pallbearer at his funeral, according to his published obituary.
Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden said some new information came to light Wednesday that led to the arrest.
“There were some things revealed to us that we think were very solid that helped us develop the probable cause,” he said.
Roden declined to reveal any further details on the case — such as possible motive — because the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests could be made.
“Investigators are still actively investigating the case,” he said. “There are still a lot of details we have to put together and a lot of work that has to be done. Ledbetter has been — along with some others — a person of interest in this case.”
Hayes’ body was found Nov. 6 on the floor of his Pearson Street home.
An Alabama Department of Forensics autopsy revealed Hayes died from several blows to his body. No gunshots or stab wounds were found on the victim’s body.
According to sheriff’s reports, a person or persons broke into Hayes’ home the night of the murder and took several items.
Though there are some indications a robbery took place, the sheriff’s office has not confirmed that was the motive for the murder.
Hayes was well-known in the area as the former owner of Rack and Cue pool hall in Cullman.
Ledbetter is currently incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash bond.
Hayes’ death marked the second reported murder in Cullman County this year. A third homicide is currently under investigation in Holly Pond.
* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.
Top News
Arrest made in J.T. Hayes murder case
- Top News
-
- PREP FOOTBALL: Warriors have 8 suspended for brawl
-
Plaintiffs ask high court to reconsider stay
In the wake of a spurning by the Supreme Court of Alabama, plaintiffs in the ongoing civil suit over control of the county’s water department have filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its decision to allow the South Cumberland Cooperative District (SCCD) to retain control of the department as the suit — along with the defendants’ appeal of a circuit court’s injunction order against it — moves forward.
-
Detour disruption
Road construction on Highway 31 near the I-65 interchange in Lacon has been a disruption to residents in the area for several months since the latest project began.
-
Robbery reported Sunday in Walmart parking lot
Cullman Police are investigating a reported robbery in the parking lot of Walmart, which allegedly occurred early Sunday afternoon.
-
Labor Day weekend passes with few problems
For motorists in the state of Alabama, this Labor Day weekend was one of the safest to date.
-
Guten Tag Frau Bürgermeister
Each year Cullman celebrates a family oriented Oktoberfest in honor of the unique German heritage of the community.
-
Taters bring big turnout
The Dowling Memorial Park in center of Crane Hill was the place to be this Labor Day weekend as the fourteenth annual Sweet Tater Festival began on Sunday.
-
Local unemployment drops to 8.6 percent
Along with the celebration of America’s workforce yesterday with Labor Day, officials are also cheering some improvements for the area job market — as the local unemployment rate dropped nearly a full percentage point in the past month.
-
Zorn brings campaign for ag commish to area
State Agriculture Commissioner candidate Glen Zorn campaigned in Cullman and surrounding counties last week, touting the value of research in moving Alabama’s agriculture community forward.
-
From Jersey to Alabama
At first Josh Agnew had a little culture shock - coming from the teeming metropolis of Lincoln Park, New Jersey, this was quite a change.
- More Top News Headlines
