On a tragic spring day in Pisgah, Alabama, the community was shaken by the violent deaths of a father and son. Horace 'Bimbo' Garren, a 68-year-old male, and his 44-year-old son, Christopher Horace Garren, were found shot and killed in the backyard of their residence on County Road 354 on Saturday, April 30, 2022.
The initial response to the reported shooting involved deputies from both the Jackson County and DeKalb County Sheriff's Offices.
Upon their arrival at approximately 2:30 P.M., they discovered the bodies of the two men. The suspect, later identified as Matthew Edward Garren, 33, the son of Horace and brother of Christopher, had fled the scene. A search of the surrounding area was promptly initiated.
With the assistance of a DeKalb County Sheriff's Office helicopter, law enforcement was able to locate Matthew Garren in a wooded area not far from the home. He was taken into custody by DeKalb County deputies and returned to the residence. Following an initial investigation into the double homicide, Matthew Edward Garren was arrested and charged with one count of murder.
Subsequent to the arrest, an autopsy conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences confirmed that Horace 'Bimbo' Garren had also been fatally shot by the suspect. This led to a second murder charge being filed against Matthew Garren. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail. In July 2022, Matthew Edward Garren pleaded not guilty to the two counts of murder. Court records indicate that the weapon used in the killings was a 12-gauge shotgun.
