In the quiet community of Cullman, Alabama, the life of 49-year-old Thomas 'Tommy' Lee Piper, a White male, was tragically cut short on April 13, 2019. Friends and family remember him as a man who loved life, and his sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and grief through the town. Piper was found deceased in his home on Dripping Springs Road Northwest, the victim of a fatal shooting.
The investigation into Piper's death quickly focused on 28-year-old Charles Patrick Wayne
Burgess. Events on the day of the murder revealed a disturbing escalation. Earlier that Saturday, police had been called to Piper's residence due to Burgess being at the door, openly carrying a firearm and reportedly 'talking crazy.' Officers de-escalated the situation by disarming Burgess and ordering him to leave the property. However, a few hours later, Burgess returned with another weapon, entered Piper's home, and shot him.
Within hours of the shooting, Charles Patrick Wayne Burgess was apprehended and charged with murder. The subsequent investigation uncovered more about Burgess's alleged criminal activities. In July 2019, the murder case was sent to a Cullman County Grand Jury. The court also found probable cause to add four counts of third-degree burglary against Burgess in connection with unrelated incidents. Forensic evidence played a role in the case against him, with ammunition found in the hotel room where he was arrested matching a shell casing from the crime scene.
In February 2022, the Cullman County Sheriff's Office announced that Charles Patrick Wayne Burgess had been arrested on multiple Grand Jury Indictments. The charges against him included capital murder and murder/domestic violence, in addition to the previous burglary charges. Despite his arrest and indictment, Burgess maintained his innocence and, in 2021, filed a civil rights lawsuit against several officials. As of early 2026, court records indicated ongoing legal proceedings related to a habeas corpus petition filed by Burgess. The final resolution of the murder charges against him remains pending in the legal system.
