An Alabama teenager is accused of stabbing his mother and twin brothers to death, and then going to school the next day as if nothing happened, authorities said Thursday.
Landon Hudson Durham, 16, is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Holli Christina Durham, 36, Branson Durham and Baron Durham, both 13.
Investigators have released few details in the slayings but said the victims are believed to have been killed at 3 a.m. Tuesday inside their home. The suspect is believed to have then gone back to sleep for a few hours before going to Munford High School for the day Tuesday.
A family member had been trying to reach the family all day Tuesday but to no avail. That family contacted another family member and they went to the home where they found the horrific scene. They backed out of the house and called 911.
“It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen and I’ve been here for 19 years,” said Talladega County Chief Deputy Joshua Tubbs. “It’s the worst thing I’ve seen in my career.”
“This really has the community shaken,” Tubbs said. Authorities are not yet releasing a possible motive.
The boys’ father, as well as relatives of Holli Durham, declined comment. Landon Durham remains held without bond in the Talladega County Jail. He will make his first court appearance Friday morning in a hearing that is expected to last only a few minutes. A March 3 preliminary hearing date has been set.
Munford Baptist Church held a community prayer vigil Thursday night.
Holli Durham and her twin sons were found stabbed to death Tuesday night at a home in Munford. (Facebook)
Deputies responded to the house on Roy Lackey Lane late Tuesday, according to Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore’s office. When authorities arrived, they found the three victims.
A lookout bulletin for Landon Durham was quickly issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said deputies arrested the teen about 8:40 a.m. Wednesday traveling towards Etowah County on County Road 71, near County Road 38. He was taken into custody without incident at a store.
“This is the kind of crimes you see on TV or the media or the internet that happen in other places and for it to happen here, it really hits home,” said Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens. “Munford, like all communities in this county, are pretty close-knit, and I know they’re hurting, and we are, too … I’m not wishing this on somebody else but it’s hard to believe these things happen.”
Landon Hudson Durham, 16, is charged with capital murder in the stabbing deaths of his mother and twin 13-year-old brothers.
Dr. Suzanne Lacey, Superintendent of Talladega County Schools, sent a statement about the triple homicide. “Last night, we learned of a tragedy in the Munford community. Like any small town, when tragedy strikes it effects the entire community including the school community,” she said. “Our focus is to support the school family during this difficult time. We have additional counselors available to provide a helping hand and listening ear to our Munford students and staff.”
The warrant against the teen states only that intentionally killed the victims by stabbing them with a knife. A preliminary hearing – at which time any evidence against him will be made public – is scheduled for March 3. Court records do not list an attorney for Landon Durham.
The East Alabama Metro Crime Center, Oxford police, Munford police, and the Munford Volunteer Fire Department are assisting in the investigation. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office at 256-761-2141, the county E-911 at 256-761-1556, or anonymously at talladegasheriff.com.