On Christmas Eve of 2019, the quiet community of Addison, Alabama, was unsettled by a tragic event that unfolded within a local family's home. Rita Ann Privett, a 63-year-old retired teacher, and her husband, 71-year-old Frank Hollis Privett, were found deceased in their residence. The devastating incident came to light after their son, Allen Hollis Privett, who was 30 years old at the time, placed a call to law enforcement to report that he had killed his parents.
Authorities arrived at
the scene to find Allen Privett waiting for them in the front yard, still on the phone with the dispatcher. He surrendered to the Addison Police without incident and was taken into custody. Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of Rita and Frank Privett. It was later reported that both had been shot with a 12-gauge pump shotgun that was recovered from the kitchen. The motive for the killings was believed to have been a family dispute that escalated.
Rita Privett was remembered as a caring individual with an infectious laugh and smile who had dedicated her career to education, teaching at Jones Chapel Jr. High and Logan Jr. High before her retirement. She held a Master's in Education from UAB and enjoyed gardening, reading, and studying the Bible.
Following the incident, Allen Privett was held in the Winston County jail. The investigation was handled by the Winston County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office. The community was left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of a couple described as hardworking and beloved by family and friends.
