In the quiet community of Florence, Alabama, the life of 57-year-old Clo Ann Taylor Stoner was tragically cut short in a brutal act of violence that also claimed the life of another woman. On March 17, 2014, Stoner and 41-year-old Joanna Strickland Butler were found murdered, leaving friends, family, and the local community in a state of shock and grief. The ensuing investigation quickly pointed to a single suspect, Mark Montgomery, whose connection to the victims would unravel a story of domestic violence that ended in a double homicide.
The investigation into the deaths of Stoner and Butler moved swiftly, with law enforcement identifying Mark Montgomery as the primary suspect. In a chilling turn of events, it was Montgomery's own sister who witnessed the shootings, providing a crucial eyewitness account to the authorities. Further compounding the evidence against him, Montgomery reportedly confessed the killings to his mother shortly after the incident. A 45-minute car chase with deputies ultimately led to his apprehension. Upon his arrest, investigators found blood on his clothing and the weapon used in the murders inside his vehicle. In addition to the two counts of capital murder for the deaths of the women, Montgomery was also charged with animal cruelty for the death of a dog at the residence.
Following his arrest, Mark Montgomery was brought before the court to face the charges brought against him. He entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental defect to the two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated animal cruelty. The case was a capital murder case, meaning the death penalty was a possible outcome. However, on the eve of what was expected to be a lengthy and emotionally charged trial, the case took a significant turn. On May 4, 2016, Mark Montgomery's attorneys approached the prosecutor's office with an offer for him to plead guilty as charged to capital murder. After consulting with the families of both victims, the offer was accepted.
On Thursday, May 4, 2016, Mark Montgomery formally entered a guilty plea to the capital murder of Clo Ann Taylor Stoner and Joanna Strickland Butler. As a condition of his plea, he was required to state, under oath, the truthful facts regarding the murders, providing some measure of closure to the victims' families who were present in court. In exchange for his guilty plea, Montgomery avoided a trial and the possibility of receiving the death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
