In the quiet community of Skyline, Alabama, the evening of Friday, May 26, 2023, was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leading to the tragic death of 61-year-old Terry Dewayne Warren. Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of shots fired at a residence on County Road 17 at approximately 11:30 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered the male victim just inside his home, suffering from what appeared to be fatal gunshot wounds. Mr. Warren was pronounced dead at the scene, marking the beginning of an intensive homicide investigation.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Scottsboro Police Department, quickly pointed to a suspect. Dima Stevanovich Novikov, a 29-year-old, was identified as the individual allegedly responsible for Warren's death. An arrest warrant was issued for Novikov on the charge of murder, and a nationwide alert was broadcast to law enforcement agencies. The diligent work of investigators and the cooperation of the public, who provided numerous tips, played a crucial role in the subsequent manhunt.
The search for Novikov spanned five days and crossed state lines, culminating in his apprehension on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. He was located and arrested in Chatsworth, Georgia, by deputies from the Murray County Sheriff's Office. Following his arrest, Novikov was held in the Murray County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Alabama to face the murder charge. The successful capture of the suspect was the result of a multi-agency effort involving law enforcement from both Alabama and Georgia, bringing a swift, albeit somber, development to the case.
