AL - Angel Downs, 45, fatally shot, Gulf Shores, 9 May 2010

elainebenice

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http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/grand_jury_brings_impeachment.html

Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine arrested, faces impeachment charges

"A grand jury on Friday brought impeachment charges against Nodine, who also has been named by the Baldwin County district attorney as the only suspect in the shooting death of Gulf Shores Realtor Angel Downs. Nodine has not been arrested or charged in connection with that investigation."
 
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/baldwin_district_attorney_says.html

Baldwin DA: Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine is suspect in Angel Downs murder case

"Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb today named Mobile County Stephen Nodine as the only suspect in what investigators now call a murder investigation."

"Speculation has swirled around Nodine since Downs was shot in the head in the driveway of her home in Gulf Shores. Neighbors reported seeing that day a red truck with a Mobile County tag matching the description of county vehicle Nodine drives."
 
Very interesting case here! Dominick Dunne would have loved to write about this one & I would have loved reading his piece.
 
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3004834/steve_nodine_and_me.html?cat=7

Steve Nodine and Me: How I Became Friends with a Suspected Murderer

Not that it's a surprise to find out a politician is a low life, this one seems particularly low.

BTW,

Steve up and ran for county commissioner. His opponent in that race, the long time incumbent Freeman Jockish, was indicted on charges related to some sort of shenanigans and ultimately Nodine won that election too.


Freeman Jockish?! People were surprised he turned out to be a d--k?
 
Is there an article anywhere about the victim? Everything seems to be about the murder suspect.
 
Angel Downs murder investigation continues; rehab for suspect Stephen Nodine delayed http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/investigation_continues_rehab.html

late Saturday recap, nothing new but this I had not seen:

".... Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. said Nodine had previously planned on checking himself into a rehabilitation clinic, but hadn't done so by early Saturday afternoon.

"I was under the impression that was the plan, but he is apparently not there or not executing that plan just yet," Tyson said, declining to release further details.

"Nodine, reached on his cell phone about 5 p.m. Saturday by the Press-Register, spoke slowly and sounded dazed as he declined to comment."

much more about Angel Downs, her family, ex-husband, incident in 2006 some think was a failed suicide attempt. also timeline of Nodine's public service. http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/angel_downs_stephen_nodine_see.html

Nodine's december 09 drug arrest
http://blog.al.com/live/2009/12/mobile_county_commissioner_ste_2.html
http://blog.al.com/press-register-c...rial_trouble_mounting_for_stephen_nodine.html
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/mobile_county_commissioner_ste_3.html
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/mobile_county_commissioner_ste_3.html
 
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/second_warrant_released_gives.html

2nd warrant released in Angel Downs case gives info on search of home



"The document detailing items seized from the house notes the following items:
  • A 7-page letter retrieved from the top right drawer of a nightstand in a downstairs bedroom.
  • A 1-page letter retrieved from the bottom right drawer of a nightstand in a downstairs bedroom.
  • An iPhone and memory card from the shelf of a walk-in closet in a downstairs bedroom.
  • Various e-mails and photos from a file box in a downstairs bedroom.
  • A Gateway laptop computer from a workout room.
  • A Razor cellular phone from a nightstand in a downstairs bedroom.
  • An HP laptop computer from the floorboard of a white BMW X5.
  • A Canon camera from a beach bag in the garage area.
  • A receipt for the purchase of a BlackBerry phone from the left rear seat of the X5."
 
There is a lot of press on this in the area. Steve Nodine has friends in high places. He's not yet been charged with Angel Downs murder but is the only suspect.

The Mobile County Commissioner seems to have had a checkered past. Allegedly a pot smoking, lortab taking, womanizer with a bad temper. Accused of misuse of funds and vehicle. He's been impeached and arrested on the drug charges. He's out on bail.

Seems many knew about his escapades but did nothing. Is he getting special treatment now?
http://www.wkrg.com/financial/article/steve-nodine-overview/887109/May-15-2010_12-52-pm/

No murder charges yet. Angel Downs was a heart desease survivor and it is rumored she had been trying to end their relationship.

His longtime mistress was found shot in her head and Steve Nodine was seen driving away.
http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/angel_downs_stephen_nodine_see.html


His wife has filed for a divorce. http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/steve-nodines-wife-files-for-divorce/887557/May-17-2010_5-41-pm/

It's rumored there was another woman in Steve's past who met an untimely death - a questionable suicide. This is when he lived in Jupiter, FL about 15 yrs ago.

It's an interesting story and WKRG Reporter Jessica Taloney is on top of it.

Stephen Daniel Nodine job description http://www.mobilecountyal.gov/Default.asp?ID=149&pg=Stephen+Nodine

Here's what some of his buddies are saying now:
http://open.salon.com/blog/kevin_lee/2010/05/12/political_leader_scrutinized_in_seamy_oj-style_death

http://open.salon.com/blog/kevin_lee/2010/05/15/ethics_drugs_and_murder_charges_pile_on_politico

Shane McBryde (old radio buddy - who is now sober and drug-free):
How I Became Friends with a Suspected Murderer
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3004834/steve_nodine_and_me_pg3.html?cat=7

Why is a Suspected Murderer and Known Absuer of the Public Trust Still Not Behind Bars?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3015196/steve_nodine_a_man_who_knows_too_much.html?cat=8

Finger Pointing and Backbiting Continue Over Who Bares the Heaviest Burden of Steve Nodine's Success
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3019332/as_the_nodine_saga_drags_on_a_plea.html?cat=9

Lagniappe:
Was the Press Complicit?
http://www.lagniappemobile.com/articles/3412-was-the-press-complicit

Rob Holbert
http://www.lagniappemobile.com/articles/3429-blowing-our-own-horn
Nodine frenzy and the media clipped for length
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water following the Herman Thomas debacle, here comes the arrest of Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine on drug and ethical charges, and the announcement he is the lone suspect in the murder of Angel Downs, his longtime girlfriend.

Now one of the things media folks like me and others I know are being asked is how Nodine’s behavior went undetected by the press for so long. The only answer I have is, that I’m not entirely sure. All of the sudden after his arrest, we’ve got records showing reimbursements for lavish meals, stories of him losing his vehicle for days after Mardi Gras and regular drunken behavior.

Now, I have never spent any time socially with Nodine — sorry those who think we’re buddies, but I’ve never so much as had a beer with the guy — but the stories from people I know well about him showing up in local bars with his girlfriend, despite being married, are many. But is it the press’ job to report on any public official who steps outside the marital boundaries? I hope not. It’s not something I think many of us wish to police.

But things like losing his truck and showing up at the BP Oil Command Center wasted and belligerent seem difficult to believe they could be kept quiet.

Now that we have his phone records for the past several months, it is clear Nodine was fond of calling several members of the media to blabber about any number of things. As one of those who occasionally listened to him on the phone — I say “listen” because it was seldom a two-way conversation — I can report that most of the time he seemed to be trying to lead me into doing some story he thought “we” needed to do. I doubt there were many times “we” agreed on any of his story ideas, though.

Mostly I just thought he was blowing off steam and rambling. However, since pot was found in his county-issued truck at the end of last year, his calls have become more angry and pointed at revealing others’ foibles (or worse). He didn’t really offer evidence of what he alleged, but often railed against people for messing with him. Those who were going to pay included everyone from the governor to the Chamber of Commerce, who he threatened in the last call I took from him on the day before Downs died.

Many times I simply didn’t answer his calls because I found it difficult to get him off the phone. But sometimes I felt he might say something useful. I’m sure the same is true for most media folks he called. I know he also liked to say he was close friends with all manner of media people — several of whom, like me, rarely if ever did anything with him socially. One of those is Chris Smith aka “Uncle Henry,” who had Nodine on his show many times and watched as Nodine built his political “empire” through his constant agitation to be in print or on the radio or TV.

Now Smith/Uncle Henry are taking a lot of heat for the “close” relationship with Nodine, including from the guy who probably helped Nodine the most — former radio host Shane McBryde. McBryde has written a highly questionable piece on a website detailing his and Nodine’s alleged love of chasing women and smoking weed, but also trying to throw Smith under the bus with them.

I first met Nodine while going on McBryde’s show, when he used to let “The Hammer” come in and blabber, while McBryde would just lay back and do nothing. I finally stopped going on the show because McBryde seemed so lazy and Nodine so overbearing. McBryde has since had several bad job endings in Mobile and other cities, so he’s a sketchy source at best.

Still, I did think Nodine was doing a fairly good job in office. It seems I may have been very wrong, and I think it’s up to all of us in the media to find out just how wrong we may have been and how this stuff got swept under the rug and who has the broom. It’s probably going to get uglier as we go along.
 
ChaCha, thanks for the new links.... This is an nteresting case (although most assuredly the murder has been already solved). Nodine really is a teflon man, it's incredulous he was not detained.... no telling what political corruption will surface. And why the heck has the national media ignored such a juicy story?
 
Two Cases of Murder

Mobile Alabama is my home and one I’ve cherished. The children here are taught to answer, “yes ma’am or yes sir” and southern hospitality is practiced along with football, going to church, fishing’ and hunting’.

Recently two men allegedly hunted down and killed their intimate partners. Both stories are as black and evil as any story you will hear on the national news. But they contrast in the fact that one man is behind bars and the other is free.

Why the preferential treatment? Could it be because he’s an elected official, with friends in high places?

Murder #1

image001.jpg
Angel Downs Age 45 – murdered May 9. 2010

Angel Downs Murder Investigation - Commissioner Steve Nodine - Only Suspect
The night of May 9th was the night Realtor Angel Downs was found shot in the head in her front yard in Gulf Shores, AL. Steve Nodine was seen leaving the scene, in his county provided pickup truck, by neighbors who heard shots fired. Angel Downs was Steve Nodines’s mistress and she was trying to end their longtime rocky relationship. There are many inconsistencies in his story as well as very suspicious behavior. Angel Downs family insists she was not suicidal in case that becomes a defense ploy. The DA says Mr. Nodine is the “one and only suspect.”

Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine seems to have had a checkered and colorful past. He’s known as a pot smoking, pill popping, womanizer with a history of domestic violence and now the lone suspect in a murder..

Nodine is accused of multiple misuses of funds and misuse of a county vehicle. The Grand Jury impeached and arrested him, though he’s currently out on bail. His wife filed for divorce the day after he was arrested. Has he been getting special treatment? Many say he has and has to STOP!!

How did he get away with loosing a county truck, escaped domestic violence charges, a D.U.I. related wreck in New Orleans and purchased 2500 pain pills without any of it reported in the press. Seems many knew about his escapades but did nothing to stop him.

Now Angel Downs is dead. I hope those who looked the other way find their conscience and come forward with any and all information they possess. The irony is this man actually ran on family values?

Nodine, a surprise visitor at a recent prayer group asked for a prayer which was led by current DA John Tyson Jr, The episode stunned the group, the pastor said. "We were in disbelief at what had just happened,". Nodine says "God will God will show the way and have mercy on everyone.”

Murder and politic’s shouldn’t mix but there’s a DA race going on right now with Nodine’s Atty Mark Erwin running against Ashly Rich. Rich says about her opponent "His real job for the past 5 years has been working as a lawyer for Steve Nodine at the Mobile County Commission where last year alone he was paid over $250,000." Erwin went to Nodine’s house the day after Angel Downs was murdered to remove 2 guns ostensibly out of concern for his family and Nodine.

Evidence includes blood, bullets and maybe even surveillance video. I’m not the only one in Mobile asking, “Why hasn’t he been arrested for murder?” I’m praying for justice for Angel Dow

image003.jpgimage005.jpg
Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Daniel Nodine age 46

Read Articles and documents in on going case LINK

Murder #2
Just 2 days later on May 11th, Tuesday night about 7pm my granddaughter ran to tell me to turn on the TV and the house alarm. Her eyes were wide and scared, “a man just shot his wife in front of 4 kids and he’s on the loose.”


image007.jpg
Wendy Sue Stevens age 36 - murdered May 11, 2010

Mother shot to death in front of children
Wendy Sue Stevens was hunted and shot multiple times by her estranged husband Michael Berry while she sat at an ATM at 6:45pm on May 11, 2010. In the car were her 4 children ages 3 to 13. There were witnesses who said they couldn’t believe what they had seen. The husband then fled and alluded police for several days. When Police caught him a few hundred yards from the scene of the crime, they immediately arrested him and charged him with murder. He was seen that night on TV smart mouthing the cameras. He showed no remorse and pled not guilty to capital murder.

Wendy did everything an abused woman is supposed to do. Michael Berry was arrested twice for violating the protection from abuse order. District Attorney John Tyson Jr said Wendy’s mother had also been threatened by Berry.

Wendy’s only escape was through death. Apparently her life was torture for more than 10 years. The DA's office states they intend to pursue the death penalty.

Ginger, her 11 yr old daughter told LOCAL 15 News that her mother is in a better place. "I'm trying to be happy and know that she's not in pain anymore."Obit.

In both these cases the women were victims only because they were women and vulnerable to abusive partners. It appears that Mr. Berry’s case is being pursued with all diligence we certainly hope that Angel Downs murderer receives the same level of justice.


image008.jpg
Michael Berry 43 yrs old
 
5-20 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/commissioners-break-silence-on-nodine
While Steve Nodine deals with his legal troubles, the other two Mobile County Comissioners are trying to deal with the fallout. Both Merceria Ludgood and Mike Dean had been silent on the impeachment charges including using his county issued truck for personal reasons and purchasing alcohol, food, and fuel with his county issued credit card. issue. At the Mobile County pre-commission meeting, Commissioners Ludgood and Dean finally broke their silence. "Our process is when we submit, they have what I call an assumption of legitimacy. We have not had any reason to believe otherwise except within the content of the indictments. The question as to whether they're legitimate will be answered in courts," Ludgood said.../snip/.." He is cloaked with the presumption of innocence and that's what we operate on."

John Pafenbach, county administrator refused to answer questions earlier this week about Nodine's spending habits.

Ludgood said she has briefly spoken to Nodine while Dean said he hasn't spoken with the commissioner since the charges were handed up.

NOTE: ChaCha's post aboves states he is living with friend & co-commissioner Mike Dean.

It is noZme's opinion that a lot more is about to come to light; the good ol' boy network is alive & well in Alabama politics; & the citizenry should "clean house".

To ChaCha: $80K salary would be a deal IF SN worked as hard at his duties for the county as he apparently worked on monkey business. But, figuring in his "expenses", not so much, huh? About murder #2, prayers for Ms Stevens' children. I hope they put the dirtbag under the jail.


My question- What did she see in him? Downs was a pretty woman with a reported thriving career, he is---- ewwwww, not to mention married. Was she trying to dump him & the ego couldn't deal with rejection? Ummmm,"allegedly".

5-20 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/steve-nodines-attorney-speaks-out
Attorney: Nodine had nothing to with Downs death

Neighbors have stated they saw Stephen Nodine's county-issued truck leave the scene that night, but Nodine's attorney Dennis Knizley says that doesn't mean his client did a thing. Knizley said to wait for all the facts.
"They heard a shot and saw Mr. Nodine leaving," said Knizley. "Have we put all the facts together? I think that's critical. You're going to see during the case, but we're gonna find out what the facts are, as to when the gun shot was fired and who was where."

5-20 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/camera-hard-drive-given-to-authorities

Camera hard drive given to authorities
BAY MINETTE, Alabama (WALA) - The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office commented on the camera system seized at Downs' condominium complex. The day after the shooting, neighbors told FOX10 News the cameras were not working. But this week, Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack said those cameras were working.

Right now, the hard drive is in the possession of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators confirm that there is video, but they are not saying whether Angel Downs' death was recorded.

Investigators have said all along that Nodine is their number one suspect in the case. As of right now though, Nodine has not been charged with any crime in Baldwin County.
 
This is what I know http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/nodine-scrambling-for-bond/890125/May-25-2010_2-20-pm/

Nodine is scrambling for bond. Early this AM owner of The Spot of Tea talked about being Nodines best friend.

I know someone who lives right by Mike Dean and they said before Nodine was arrested that's where he was staying. (It's just hearsay)

Last night he spent the night in jail http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/nodine-spending-the-night-in-jail/890013/May-25-2010_12-50-am/

Here's AL.com take http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/stephen_nodine_charged_with_mu.html

I also updated a post at Time's Up http://timesupblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/two-cases-of-murder-mobile-al.html it has lots of links to the whole story

What did Angel see in Steve? He is very charismatic and a master manipulator. Just look at how he conducted business. I can't believe this guy ran on family values.

I heard a rumor this isn't the 1st time he's had a mistress die on him. 15 years ago in West Palm Beach. Anyone know how to check on this? Steve worked for a radio station and was Pres of Jaycees.

I also read Angel Downs had lived a very sheltered life prior to her 30's. She had heart and kidney disease and medication finally got it under control in her 30's. It's when it's said she began to live life.
 
Not that it's a surprise to find out a politician is a low life, this one seems particularly low.

BTW,

Steve up and ran for county commissioner. His opponent in that race, the long time incumbent Freeman Jockish, was indicted on charges related to some sort of shenanigans and ultimately Nodine won that election too.


Freeman Jockish?! People were surprised he turned out to be a d--k?

omg lmao....

what about milton bradley (baseball player) 'hey chutes and ladders hows it going?"
 
Tony Moore of Spot of Tea and Club Insanity in downtown Mobile, AL talks about his friend Steve Nodine.

Tony says Steve was staying with him prior to going to jail. The video shows Mr Moore missing a tooth.

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local...stigation/MoJIDfMM30SWI0qND1EVaA.cspx?rss=217

Past Domestic Violence cahregs from West Palm Beach. Nodine struck ex-girlfriend numerous times on the legs in 1987. http://www.local15tv.com/news/local...Domestic-Call-for/qQChwkdxZUSS7N298WPbxw.cspx

And fellow Commissioner Mike Dean speaks out. http://www.local15tv.com/news/local...sioner-Speaks-Out/6Bz1k7vXu0epr_SaFDRDmw.cspx

West Palm Beach Post Article http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/s...harged-with-murder-active-in-palm-708840.html

Sheriff believes death of Angel Downs resulted from ongoing domestic violence http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/sheriff_believes_death_of_ange.html
 

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