In the quiet community of McCalla, Alabama, a domestic argument tragically escalated, leading to the death of 52-year-old Linda Cole Jackson on Sunday, May 26, 2019. The day began with a heated dispute between Jackson and her husband, 39-year-old Belton Eugene Nettles, at their home in the 4700 block of Longmeadow Drive.
The argument, which started around 3:00 a.m., turned violent when Nettles allegedly began to assault Jackson's adult daughter.
In a selfless act of maternal protection, Jackson intervened to defend her daughter. It was in this moment that a firearm was introduced, and Linda Cole Jackson was fatally shot.
Following the shooting, the horror continued for Jackson's daughter, who was held at gunpoint for several hours. She was eventually able to escape and call for help after one of Nettles' own family members intervened, convincing him to let her go. Nettles later surrendered himself to the Bessemer Police Department.
Belton Eugene Nettles was subsequently charged with Capital Murder in the death of his wife. For more than three years, he remained in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. In 2023, to avoid a capital trial, Nettles entered into a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of murder for his wife's death, as well as attempted murder and other severe charges related to his actions against her daughter. The judge sentenced him to life in prison.
