In the quiet community of Prospect Mountain in Cullman County, Alabama, a dispute that had been simmering for some time erupted into violence, claiming the life of 76-year-old Thomas Frank DeWille on October 21, 2019. DeWille, a male, was at a residence on County Road 223 with two other men, Rollan Frank Edwards, 75, and Jody Jay Tudor, 48, when they were attacked. The assault was brutal, involving both knives and firearms.
DeWille was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.
Edwards was transported to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he also succumbed to his wounds. Tudor, the sole survivor of the attack, was hospitalized in critical condition. The three victims were known to live together and had been residents of the property for many years.
The investigation quickly pointed to a neighbor, Matthew LeWayne Clayton, a 30-year-old from Prospect Mountain. Authorities stated that the individuals involved were very familiar with each other and that the violence was the culmination of a long-standing dispute. Clayton fled the scene after the attack but was apprehended by Alabama State Troopers and the Limestone County Sheriff's Office later that night on Interstate 65.
Clayton was extradited to Cullman County and formally charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was held without bond at the Cullman County Detention Center. However, the legal proceedings against him came to an abrupt end. On October 22, the day after the attack, Clayton attempted suicide in his cell. He was hospitalized and died four days later, on October 26, bringing a somber and final close to the tragic events.
