On a summer day in Camden, Alabama, the life of 21-year-old Black / African American woman, Alexis Danielle Thomas, was tragically cut short. On July 10, 2023, Wilcox County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on Union Grove Road, just outside the city limits. Inside the home, they discovered Thomas, who had been fatally shot.
An investigation into the circumstances of her death was immediately launched, and her body was sent for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
The community mourned the loss of the young woman, with funeral services held for her on July 15, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Pine Apple, Alabama. She was laid to rest in the church cemetery, leaving behind a grieving family and a community searching for answers. The investigation into her death continued for several months, as law enforcement worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
Approximately six months after Alexis Thomas's death, a breakthrough was made in the case. On January 9, 2024, authorities arrested 24-year-old Tyrese Dortch of Camden. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Thomas. Dortch made his first appearance in court on January 11, 2024. Following this initial hearing, he was held without bond at the Prince Arnold Detention Center as he awaited further legal proceedings.
