In the quiet, rural community of Luverne, Alabama, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace on August 26, 2002, claiming the lives of six family members, including 17-year-old Tony Lamar Ball. The male teenager was found slain alongside his grandmother, Mila Ruth Ball, 65; his mother, JoAnn Ball, 35; his father, Willie Haslip, 40; and his two brothers, 19-year-old Jerry C. Ball and 14-year-old John Lewis Ball.
The family was discovered at their farm in Crenshaw County, victims of a mass shooting that would become one of the state's most infamous crimes.
The initial investigation quickly pointed to a suspect, Westley Devone Harris, who was 22 years old at the time. Harris was the boyfriend of the sole survivor of the massacre, 16-year-old Janice Ball, who was also the mother of his child. Authorities alleged that Harris had been angered by the family's attempts to separate him from Janice. Following the discovery of the bodies, a search for Harris and Janice ensued. The two were located three days later, leading to Harris's arrest. He was subsequently charged with six counts of capital murder. Janice Ball was considered a witness in the case and was not charged.
The legal proceedings against Westley Devone Harris were lengthy and complex. His first trial in 2004 ended in a mistrial. However, a second trial in June 2005 resulted in a guilty verdict on all six counts of capital murder. During the sentencing phase of the trial, the jury recommended a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole by a vote of seven to five. In a move that is permissible under Alabama law, the trial judge overrode the jury's recommendation and imposed the death penalty for each of the six murders.
Following his conviction and death sentence, Westley Devone Harris has remained on death row at Holman Correctional Facility. His case has been the subject of numerous appeals. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has repeatedly denied his appeals, and the Alabama Supreme Court has also rejected his requests for post-conviction relief. The United States Supreme Court has also denied hearing his case. Despite the extensive appellate process, Harris's convictions and death sentence have been consistently upheld.
