In the small community of Cullman, Alabama, a tragic story unfolded in early March of 2014, forever altering the lives of a young family. Britni Lynn Champagne, a 32-year-old mother of three, was a woman who had moved to the area from Louisiana, seeking a life for her children. Her life, however, was cut short on the first of March, a day that began with a heated argument and ended in violence.
On that fateful day, Champagne was at the residence of Patrick Wesley Stallings in the Berlin
community. The two were involved in a romantic relationship, although Stallings was married to another woman. An argument erupted between them, reportedly over accusations of infidelity. The dispute escalated tragically, and Stallings shot Champagne in the abdomen with a 12-gauge shotgun. A minor child was present at the scene and witnessed the events.
Following the shooting, Stallings fled the residence in Champagne's car. He contacted law enforcement by phone and, in a moment of apparent remorse, confessed to the shooting, stating that he 'deserves to go to hell.' Authorities later located Stallings' own vehicle on a logging trail, where they discovered used syringes, drug paraphernalia, and the suspected murder weapon. Stallings himself was found nearby, suffering from an apparent drug overdose in what was believed to be a suicide attempt. While receiving medical treatment, he wrote several notes, including one that read, 'I kill her their doter. ' Britni Lynn Champagne was transported to Huntsville Hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
Patrick Wesley Stallings was arrested and charged with murder. He remained in the Cullman County Detention Center as the legal proceedings against him commenced. In a turn of events just days before his jury trial was scheduled to begin in May 2016, Stallings reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to the single charge of murder and was sentenced to serve 28 years in prison for the death of Britni Lynn Champagne.
