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Mila Ruth Ball

Death by Force
Case Description
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On August 26, 2002, in Rutledge, Alabama, a tragic mass shooting claimed the lives of six family members. The victims included 65-year-old Mila Ruth Ball; her daughter, Joanne Ball, 35; her grandsons, Jerry Ball, 19, Tony Ball, 17, and John Ball, 14; and her son-in-law, Willie Haslip, 41. The assailant, Westley Devone "DJ" Harris, was the common-law husband of 16-year-old Janice Denise Ball, another member of the family.

The murders occurred over a span of approximately 10 hours at the ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (11)
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  • Man Is Charged in Massacre of 6 Family Members in Alabama
  • HARRIS JAILED, TEEN CONSIDERED A WITNESS Charges filed in ...
    •     ...View 9 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Mila Ruth Ball

    Female

    Luverne

    AL

    2002-08-26

    65

    Mila

    Ruth Ball

    Yes

    11/16/2025

    Forum Posts (3)
    Hey everyone,

    I've been following the Rutledge case for a while now, and I can't stop thi... ...Read More
    11/24/2024
    I keep thinking about the impact that Westley Harris's actions must have had on Janice Denise Ball. ... ...Read More
    06/17/2024
    Over the years, I've spent quite some time trying to understand incidents like the Rutledge shooting... ...Read More
    03/01/2023
    Other Cases from Luverne, Alabama

    Joanne Ball

    Death: Aug 26, 2002
    On August 26, 2002, in Luverne, Alabama, 35-year-old Joanne Ball was tragically killed in a mass sho h ...Read More