In the small community of Sawyerville, Alabama, the lives of a young couple were cut short in a tragic and violent manner. In early November 2021, 24-year-old Devyn Sterling and his girlfriend, Shalondria Grey-Chavers, also 24, were reported missing by their concerned families. The couple, who had been together for four to five years and often worked at the same jobs, were described as inseparable.
Their disappearance cast a shadow of worry over the tight-knit town.
The search for the missing couple came to a grim conclusion when their bodies were discovered in a shed. Investigators believe they were killed on a Friday night and their bodies were moved to the shed, where they were found that Sunday. The cause of death for both Sterling and Grey-Chavers was determined to be from gunshot wounds. The news of the double homicide sent shockwaves through Sawyerville, a place unaccustomed to such violent crime.
The investigation into the murders, led by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation, quickly led to arrests. Four individuals were taken into custody in connection with the killings. Two teenagers, 16-year-olds Jaligha Brantley and Daquaviin Wynn, were charged with capital murder. Additionally, 21-year-old Damyan Holifield, Jr. and 18-year-old Cardell Wynn were arrested and charged with hindering prosecution. Authorities stated that all four individuals knew the victims and that robbery was the suspected motive behind the senseless act. Investigators were reportedly aided by a social media video that showed some of the suspects in the victims' vehicle.
Devyn Sterling was remembered by his older sister, Tiffany Thomas, as her best friend. She shared that they had a special bond and even shared a birthday. His death left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends, who were left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young man with his whole life ahead of him. The suspects were held without bond in the Hale County Jail pending further court proceedings.
