On Oct. 17, 2013, Jimmy Ray Steed pleaded "not guilty" to murdering Carla Fuqua of Piedmont, AL.
http://eastal.myfoxal.com/news/news/272443-jimmy-steed-pleads-not-guilty-piedmont-womans-murder.
He also faces charges of "14 counts of first degree manufacture of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia." And he's still a suspect in the murders of Burrows, McFry and Karen Steed.
An earlier article:
http://calhouncounty.myfoxal.com/news/news/224933-suspicious-house-fire-connected-recent-meth-lab-bust ... mentions that the home on Hughes Road where Jimmy was living when arrested, burned at midnight in August of 2012, 2 days after his arrest. In August he was held on $100,000 bond, charged with 15 counts of manufacturing meth (the police found "15 meth labs"). The home that burned was owned by Jimmy's family.
In 1995, Jimmy lived in a different home nearby when his wife, Karen, disappeared. Patrick Burrows (whose motorcycle was later found in a pond nearby) was last seen leaving that house. Seven years later (2002?), that home also burned.
Nothing is said about whether both homes burned because meth labs easily ignite or if Jimmy had someone burn them for him (he was in jail when the 2nd one burned) to destroy evidence of murder. But the latter fire is still under investigation.
Another earlier article:
http://blog.al.com/east-alabama/2013/08/piedmont_man_indicted_for_murd.html
Police are hopeful that witnesses will come forward now that Jimmy's behind bars. Fuqua's family believes Jimmy and other people were involved in the murders. "If they had them all, I'd feel better," said Darlene Cook, Fuqua's mom. Fuqua's cousin, Michelle, said Jimmy would pay and "I hope others pay."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office at (256) 236-6600 or Crimestoppers at (256) 238-1414.
I live one county over but haven't lived here long. I'm grateful to say I'm never met the perps.
