In the quiet, rural community of Rutledge, near Luverne, Alabama, the tranquility was shattered in late August of 2002. Mila Ruth Ball, a 62-year-old woman, became the matriarch of a family devastated by a brutal act of violence. On August 26th, she, along with five other family members, were found shot to death at their isolated farm. This horrific event marked one of the worst multiple-victim homicides in the state's history. The other victims were her 35-year-old daughter, Joann Ball; Joann's 40-year-old common-law husband, Willie Hasley; and their three sons, 18-year-old Jerry Ball, 17-year-old Tony Ball, and 14-year-old John Ball.
The discovery of the bodies, found in various locations around the property including the farmhouse, a mobile home, the trunk of a car, and near a hog pen, sent shockwaves through the small community. The subsequent investigation quickly focused on Westley Devone Harris, the 22-year-old boyfriend of Mila's 16-year-old granddaughter, Janice Denise Ball. Harris, an unemployed high school dropout with a pending drug charge, was described by some who knew him as 'strange' and capable of snapping 'on a dime.' In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Harris and Janice, along with their one-year-old daughter, were missing, prompting a nationwide alert.
After a few days on the run, Harris and Janice turned themselves in to authorities. Harris was subsequently charged with six counts of capital murder. Janice was considered a witness and was not charged in the crimes. The motive for the massacre was reported to be Harris's anger over the family's attempts to separate him from Janice and their child. The ensuing legal proceedings revealed a chilling sequence of events. On the morning of the murders, Harris, armed with a shotgun, entered the family's home and took Mila and Janice hostage. He tied them up before fatally shooting Mila in the kitchen. He then proceeded to kill the other family members as they were encountered throughout the day.
Westley Devone Harris's first trial in 2004 ended in a mistrial. However, a second trial in 2005 resulted in his conviction on multiple counts of capital murder. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole by a 7-5 vote. In a move that is permissible under Alabama law, the trial judge overrode the jury's recommendation and sentenced Harris to death. He is currently on death row at the Holman Correctional Facility. The brutal and calculated nature of the murders left a lasting scar on the community and the surviving family members, who mourned the loss of three generations in one horrific day.
