Alabama to execute man for killing five in axe and gun attack

Derrick Dearman, 35, is scheduled for execution by lethal injection on October 17 at a prison in south Alabama. He admitted to killing five members of his then-girlfriend's family during a violent incident on August 20, 2016, in Mobile County. After initially pleading not guilty, Dearman changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to death in 2018. He expressed a desire to drop his appeals, stating that prolonging the process was unfair to the victims' families. The murders occurred when Dearman, who had a history of drug use and abusive behavior, confronted his girlfriend's family at their home. He attacked them with an axe and firearms he found in the house, resulting in the deaths of Shannon Melissa Randall, Joseph Adam Turner, Justin Kaleb Reed, Chelsea Marie Reed, and Robert Lee Brown. Chelsea was pregnant at the time of her death, along with her unborn child. Following the attack, Dearman forced his girlfriend to accompany him to Mississippi before surrendering to authorities at his father's request. His actions were influenced by methamphetamine use, which he claimed distorted his perception of reality. The Alabama Supreme Court later authorized his death sentence, leading to the scheduled execution date. Dearman's case highlights the complexities of capital punishment and the legal processes involved. His decision to forgo further appeals reflects a personal acknowledgment of guilt and a desire for closure for the victims' families, raising questions about justice and the implications of his actions on the community.