William Zane Hodgin, an 18-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically killed on June 4, 2020, in a mass shooting in Valhermoso Springs, Alabama. The incident, which claimed the lives of six other individuals and a dog, took place at a residence on Talucah Road that was known to law enforcement for previous disturbance and drug-related calls. Deputies arrived at the scene, described as "incredibly heinous" and "cold-blooded," to find the victims, four males and three females, had all been shot. A fire had also been set inside the home, in what investigators believed was an attempt to destroy evidence. The other victims were identified as Tammy England Muzzey, 45; Emily Brooke Payne, 21; Roger Lee Jones Jr., 19; Jeramy Wade Roberts, 31; James Wayne Benford, 22; and a 17-year-old female.
The investigation into the septuple homicide quickly pointed to two suspects, Frederic Allen Rogers and John Michael Legg. Investigators believe the murders were a targeted attack stemming from a dispute within a small club or social group the suspects and some of the victims belonged to called the "Seven Deadly Sins." Rogers and Legg were reportedly upset with fellow members and committed the murders to "wipe the slate clean." The two men fled Alabama after the killings and were arrested on June 22, 2020, during a traffic stop in Marion County, Oregon, before being extradited back to Alabama to face charges.
In February 2021, a Morgan County grand jury indicted both Frederic Rogers and John Michael Legg on multiple counts of capital murder, including charges related to robbery, burglary, and arson. In August 2024, Frederic Rogers was found guilty by a jury on several counts of capital murder. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Following a competency hearing, John Michael Legg pleaded guilty to capital murder on December 18, 2024. As part of a plea agreement, he was also sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole, bringing a legal conclusion to the case that the Morgan County Sheriff's Office described as one of the most horrific crimes in the county's history.
