On a summer evening in Foley, Alabama, the quiet of the River Trace subdivision was broken by a 911 call that would unravel a story of domestic violence and deception. On July 30, 2019, Linda Doyle placed a call to dispatchers, claiming her husband, James Doyle, had attacked and stabbed her. When police arrived at their home, they found 71-year-old James Doyle deceased in the living room from a gunshot wound.
Linda Doyle, then 65, was discovered with stab wounds and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.
From the outset, investigators were skeptical of Linda Doyle's account of the events. She told police that an argument over sexual demands had escalated, leading to her husband coming at her with a butcher knife, forcing her to shoot him in self-defense. However, as the Foley Police Department delved deeper into the case, a different narrative began to emerge. Their thorough investigation led them to believe that Linda Doyle's injuries were self-inflicted, a calculated attempt to substantiate her claims of self-defense.
Further inquiries uncovered a more sinister plot. Investigators found evidence that Linda Doyle had been planning to murder her husband. It was discovered that she had attempted to hire a hitman and had also sought to obtain an untraceable firearm. She had reportedly confided in someone that she intended to kill her husband. This evidence starkly contrasted with her portrayal as a victim of domestic abuse.
In November 2020, a Baldwin County Grand Jury indicted Linda Doyle on murder charges. She was arrested and taken into custody. Her trial concluded on February 17, 2022, with a jury finding her guilty of the murder of her husband, James Doyle. She was subsequently sentenced to 99 years in prison. Linda Doyle later appealed her conviction, but on June 16, 2023, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the guilty verdict, ensuring she would serve her lengthy sentence. The case, which began with a frantic 911 call, concluded with the revelation of a premeditated murder and a desperate attempt to cover it up.
