In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 14, 2023, the quiet of a Dothan, Alabama neighborhood was broken by a grim discovery. Bernard Mandrell Mcclendon, a 44-year-old Black / African American male, was found lying in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Persimmon Street. At approximately 6:45 AM, law enforcement and emergency responders arrived at the scene.
It was quickly determined that Mcclendon had succumbed to a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Investigators believe that the fatal incident did not occur where Mcclendon's body was found. It is thought that an altercation took place nearby, and in his final moments, the wounded man walked to the yard where he ultimately collapsed. The Dothan Police Department, aided by tips from the community, launched a thorough investigation. Numerous interviews were conducted, and searches were executed, which led to a significant break in the case.
The investigation led to the arrest of 48-year-old Sirrico Santonio Bennett of Dothan. He was charged with one count of Murder in connection with Mcclendon's death. In addition to the murder charge, Bennett also faced charges of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm. He was taken into custody and held at the Houston County Jail without bond. In February 2024, a Houston County grand jury indicted Bennett for the murder of Mcclendon, marking a significant step forward in the legal proceedings of the case. The investigation remains ongoing.
