In the quiet, early morning hours of June 12, 2017, a violent home invasion shattered the peace of the small, unincorporated community of Alberta, Alabama. Inside the home, 50-year-old Curtis Crear and his girlfriend were met with unexpected violence. The intruders, whose identities remain unknown, subjected the couple to a brutal attack that would tragically claim one of their lives.
While his girlfriend managed to survive the harrowing ordeal, Curtis Crear succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the invasion. His death left a void in the lives of those who knew him and a lingering mystery for law enforcement.
Responding officers from the Wilcox County Sheriff's Office arrived to a scene of disarray, with Crear's home ransacked, pointing to a robbery motive. Despite the initial investigation and the presence of a surviving witness, no suspects were immediately identified. The case, shrouded in the silence of a rural community, quickly grew cold, leaving more questions than answers. The years that followed brought little progress, and the individuals responsible for the senseless act of violence have yet to be brought to justice.
In an effort to breathe new life into the stagnant investigation, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation on November 13, 2018. This official act authorized a $5,000 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Curtis Crear's murder. Despite this financial incentive, the case remains unsolved. The Wilcox County District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office continue to appeal to the public for any information that might finally close this painful chapter for a grieving family and community. The case of Curtis Crear stands as a somber reminder of justice delayed, a puzzle waiting for the missing piece that will bring clarity and closure.
