In the summer of 2012, the life of 41-year-old Cormella Teague Boyd was tragically cut short in her Anniston, Alabama, home. On the morning of July 16th, she was shot multiple times, a violent end to a life that had been intertwined with law enforcement through her husband, Fredrick 'Fred' Boyd, a former Anniston police officer. The couple's teenage son was present in the home at the time of the shooting, a horrifying witness to the unfolding tragedy.
The events of that day extended beyond the Boyd residence in the Saks community. Fred Boyd was also the suspect in a second shooting that occurred in Hobson City. The incidents prompted a lockdown of the Anniston City Hall and police headquarters as a precautionary measure, given Boyd's history with the department from which he had resigned on bad terms the previous year after a 17-year career. A search for Boyd ensued, with law enforcement describing him as a homicide suspect.
After the shootings, Fredrick Boyd fled the state, driving over 200 miles before surrendering to authorities in Mississippi. He was subsequently extradited back to Alabama to face charges for his actions. He was charged with the murder of his wife, Cormella, and the attempted murder related to the second shooting incident.
In the aftermath, details emerged suggesting a troubled state of mind for Fred Boyd leading up to the murder. His father-in-law noted that Boyd had been acting strangely and was paranoid about being tracked through his cell phone. Court documents later revealed that Boyd spoke of corruption within the Anniston Police Department and had confronted his wife about an 'Uncle Milton' the night before her death. While in custody, he admitted to killing Cormella. Though he was charged and his trial was pending in Calhoun County Circuit Court, the ultimate legal resolution is not detailed in the available information. The community was left to mourn the loss of Cormella Teague Boyd, remembered for her warm presence and beautiful smile.
