Lonnie Martin Vaughn, a 44-year-old African American male, was found deceased on Sunday, May 3, 2009, in Birmingham, Alabama. His body, discovered by a person walking their dog in northeast Jefferson County, was naked and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one between the eyes. The investigation into his death revealed it was a homicide connected to a robbery where cash and a sports utility vehicle were stolen.
The perpetrator was identified as Martez Seay, who was
responsible for a violent crime spree that spanned several months and included multiple homicides. In 2011, Seay pleaded guilty to capital murder in connection with Vaughn's death and a number of other killings. His confession detailed a string of brutal crimes, including the shooting deaths of Christian Callins and his accomplice Gregory Shelton Jr. in November 2008, as well as the murders of Osmond Williams and Darrelle Sampson in December 2008.
Further investigation revealed a conspiracy to prevent a witness from testifying against Seay in the Vaughn case. In June 2009, Seay plotted to have his girlfriend, Kandi Hawkins, killed. Although the attempt on her life left her paralyzed, she survived. Seay’s mother, Yolanda Seay, was later convicted of conspiracy to commit murder for her role in the plot against Hawkins. Martez Seay was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His crime spree and the subsequent investigation were featured on an episode of the television series 'The First 48.' On August 7, 2023, Martez Seay was found unresponsive in his cell at the Limestone Correctional Facility and was later pronounced dead.
