On the evening of May 22, 2020, the life of 35-year-old Candise Marie Kleinatland, a White/Caucasian female, was tragically cut short in her Bay Minette, Alabama, home. Deputies from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to her residence on Cottage Hill Road around 9:10 p.m. following a report of a domestic dispute. Upon their arrival, they discovered Kleinatland inside, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the deputies, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Present at the home was Kleinatland's live-in boyfriend, 39-year-old Elzie Rufus Joiner. Joiner admitted to the deputies at the scene that he had shot Kleinatland and was subsequently taken into custody. Tragically, a 12-year-old child was also inside the residence at the time of the incident but was physically unharmed. In her final moments, it was reported that Kleinatland shielded her young son from the gunfire.
Following his arrest, Elzie Rufus Joiner was charged with murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle, and reckless endangerment. In October 2023, Joiner pleaded guilty to the charge of intentional murder in connection with Kleinatland's death. He was sentenced to life in prison. As part of his sentencing, he was also ordered to pay court costs and fines, and the court prohibited him from having any contact with Kleinatland's family.
Candise Kleinatland was remembered by her loved ones as a nurturing and loving individual who was a dedicated mother to her two children, an 18-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. She worked as an EMT with Baldwin County Medical Services, a testament to her passion for helping others. In the wake of her death, her family has become advocates for domestic violence awareness, encouraging others in similar situations to seek help. A foundation called 'Our Voices For Candi' was established in her honor to carry on her compassionate story.
