MOBILE, AL. On Monday, May 18, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Mobile police officers responded to a call for help. Officers were dispatched an incident that occurred at or near 1751 Riverside Drive (Riverside Food Mart).
Upon arrival, officers discovered a female victim was walking east on Gill Road when an unknown male subject driving by offered her a ride to that business. After arriving at the business and getting back into his vehicle, the subject demanded money and punched the victim in the process.
It was discovered that the subject made other threats to harm the victim if she didn’t comply.
The subject drove to 2311 St. Stephens Road (Quick Pik) and once he went inside, the victim was able to get away.
Police searched the area but did not locate the suspect.
This remains an active investigation. If caught, the subject faces charges of Robbery 1st degree and Kidnapping 1st degree.
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GREENE COUNTY, Ala. A twenty-three-year-old Alabama woman missing since May 8th, 2026, has been found deceased along Interstate 20/59.
The Alabama woman found dead days after she was reported missing was discovered in a large black trash bag on the side of highway.
According to police investigators, Karen Deann Hollis, 23, vanished from Northport although police have not disclosed if she left of her own free will or y other means, but police said that she was last seen at about midnight near 43rd Avenue in Northport.
At the time of her disappearance, Northport police said Hollis was believed to be living with a condition that could impair her judgment.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing person alert in connection with her disappearance.
Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said the initial investigation led detectives to believe that foul play may have been involved.
TVCU and Northport police have been working together on the case, and police have made an arrest and identified the person as Randall Lendell Dejourney, 44, but he has only been charged with abuse of a corpse based on a neighbor’s camera footage which shows Dejourney walking with Hollis and later leaving the area of her apartment.
From the footage, a deposition states, Dejourney was seen carrying a big tote with a large black bag inside.
Hollis’ phone which was recovered from I-20/59 westbound, at exit 62, after they received a crash notification from the Life360 app.
A search warrant was obtained for Dejourney’s cell tower data. That data put him at Hollis’ apartment as well as moving simultaneously with her cellphone Life360 pings, which includes the area where investigators recovered her cellphone. The data also indicates Dejourney’s cellphone traveled westbound on I-20/59.
Her body was recovered on Saturday about 10 to 15 feet off I-20/59 eastbound in Greene County. Family and friends made the discovery based upon the location of her cellphone, police said.
“She was encased in a large black trash bag,” records state, similar to the one Dejourney was seen carrying away from Hollis’ apartment.
Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy has said Hollis’ remains have been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of her death.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges could be brought following the findings of that autopsy.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. With Memorial Day just days away and area boating, swimming and water activities already in high gear, water safety cannot be overstated.
Each year drownings and near drowning incidents occur in the Gulf as well as in our area lakes and rivers and many are preventable, said Tim Weaver, a retired US Coast Guardsman and former lifeguard. If people would think safety and take a few precautions such as know the conditions where you’re swimming, and if you’re boating, make sure that the required safety equipment is onboard, many emergencies can be avoided.
As Memorial Day weekend brings higher numbers of impaired boaters to our waterways, law enforcement is issuing important safety reminders.
Number one rule is the same as driving a car, don’t drink and operate a vessel, said Weaver. Know the rules of the water and operate your vessel in a safe manner.
Be aware that some hazards that are normally marked or hidden underwater are now much harder to navigate, especially at night.
Having fun on the water doesn’t mean that you have to drive your boat fast, recklessly or ignore the rules. Obey wake zones, know what each floating buoy means and understand the navigating at night is more difficult and often more dangerous.
Now that a new Alabama law has been passed, marine officers and local police can no longer stop or board a vessel for random safety inspections. Legislation (House Bill 254) signed by Governor Kay Ivey requires law enforcement to establish probable cause that a state law has been violated before intercepting a boat. That means, safety is now one hundred percent in the hands of the vessel captain.
However, boat safety is now more important than ever and knowing what safety gear is required to have onboard your vessel is up to the boat owner. Gear requirements are based on the length of your vessel. Basic legal minimums include one U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket per person, one throwable flotation device, a sound-producing device (like a whistle or horn), visual distress signals, and a marine-rated fire extinguisher if you have an enclosed engine or fuel tank. Life jackets are truly lifesavers, Weaver said.
Operating in any navigable water such as the Gulf or some rivers in our area, falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard and your vessel can be boarded for safety inspections.
In Alabama, the minimum age to operate any motorized vessel or personal watercraft is 12 years old. Operators aged 12 to 13 must have a licensed adult on board, while operators 14 and older may drive alone provided they carry a valid boater safety certification.
May is Water Safety Month, and it’s important to know the water conditions before jumping in. Along the Alabama coast there are often strong currents, frequent undertows and powerful, unpredictable rip currents.
Enjoy the water but when in doubt, stay out!
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. Former Prichard police officer Ryan Spencer Phillips has pleaded guilty to federal gun charges but remains under investigation in a shooting incident. Phillips admitted in court Tuesday that guns found at his home by investigators during a homicide investigation had been stolen. Investigators found 14 guns and Phillips admitted that four of those were stolen.
Police originally had gone to the home of Phillips in February where San Juanita Coronado had been shot to death. While there, investigators learned that the two lived together at the home on Wesley Avenue and that Phillips, 35, admitted to pulling the trigger in a 911 call.
Although Phillips admitted to the shooting, investigators chose not to make an arrest and instead sent their investigation to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for possible prosecution. Phillips told investigators that he was moving out and that she grabbed a gun and then barricaded herself with one of his guns and threatened to shoot him.
Normally, in these types of cases, if the district attorneys believes that there’s probable cause to proceed, it’s sent to a grand jury for an indictment.
Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to recommend a sentence at the high end of advisory guidelines.
In Alabama, stealing or knowingly receiving a stolen firearm is a Class C felony, regardless of the weapon’s value. A conviction carries a penalty of 1 to 10 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.
According to Phillips’ written plea agreement, he met Coronado while both worked together at Airbus Defense and Space. He described their relationship as “best friends.” He moved into the home on Wesley Avenue when Coronado bought it in 2022, according to court documents.
The one-time police officer is now a convicted felon.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. A special education teacher at the Spanish Fort elementary school got quite the surprise when she was named Alabama’s 2026–27 Teacher of the Year.
Elizabeth Von Hofe was elated as anyone could imagine, and she was also handed the keys to a brand-new automobile that she will be able to drive for one year, with full insurance coverage.
The announcement Tuesday drew cheers inside the gym at Spanish Fort Elementary, where students, educators and community members gathered to celebrate Elizabeth Von Hofe, a self-contained classroom teacher in Baldwin County.
“There is a purpose for every human on this planet—and that’s my goal,” Von Hofe said after the ceremony.
But Von Holfe did not originally choose education as her career path but rather she went into healthcare management and spent some time as a stay-at-home mother. She later returned to school, earning a master’s degree in education at age 42.
Von Hofe said she is honored to represent educators across Alabama, noting both her family’s deep ties to education in the state and her opportunity to visit schools in other counties as part of her new role.
“I am truly blessed to represent a whole lot of great educators and great communities across the state,” she said. “I look forward to traveling the state and seeing some of the counties that have educated my family. I’ve had seven generations of my family educated in this state.”
School leaders describe Von Hofe’s classroom as a place where students are supported academically and emotionally, saying she creates an environment where children feel seen and encouraged to succeed.
Von Hofe will now compete for National Teacher of the Year and take part in professional development opportunities, including leading workshops for academic groups at the local and national level.
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IRVINGTON, AL. Mobile County sheriff investigators and federal authorities are conducting a death investigation after a woman was struck and killed by a train in Irvington on Monday.
Deputies said that they have determined that the woman she was sitting on the tracks and tried to get up when she saw the train coming.
According to deputies, the woman was struck by an Amtrak train at Irvington Bayou La Batre Highway near Highway 90.
When authorities arrived, the unidentified woman was still alive and was rushed to an area trauma center in critical condition where she passed away.
A witness of the incident who did not wish to be identified says they saw the woman at the tracks behind Palmer’s One Stop on Highway 90 an hour before the tragedy.
Animal Control was also called after witnesses said the woman had a dog with her before she was hit.
Investigators are still working to identify the woman and locate her family.
According to an Amtrak alert, the Mardi Gras Service was delayed by 2.5 hours in New Orleans. The train resumed travel at 7:41 p.m.
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MOBILE, Ala. A woman arrested after she took her child from Orange Beach without having custodial rights has been found guilty of international parental kidnapping.
Haley Leah Harris, 24, was accused of coming to a residence in Orange Beach and kidnapping her 3-year-old daughter from the home of the child’s father and then fleeing to Mexico where federal law enforcement later arrested her.
Although a jury in March deadlocked on the charge against Harris, a federal judge Monday found her guilty.
Prosecutors alleged Harris violated the father’s parental rights. The defense contended she had every legal right to take her daughter and that she was not under a court order not to do so.
After the hung jury, prosecutors and the defense agreed to bypass another jury and have a nonjury trial in front of a judge. Since Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock already heard all of the testimony, neither side presented any new evidence which in itself was unusual and it allowed the judge to only consider testimony and evidence previously presented.
Although the U.S. Attorney’s Office is recommending a sentence of the time Harris has been jailed since her arrest, the judge could impose prison time on the federal charge of kidnapping.
When she was arrested, she was pregnant and while in jail, Harris gave birth to another child.
The judge agreed to release her from jail until her formal sentencing hearing in August.
Harris plans to take the baby to Oregon while she serves her supervised release term if its granted. While there she’ll be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office and will not be allowed to leave the country.
The attorney for Harris said that she also has pending charges in Baldwin County, although he hopes prosecutors will decide not to go forward with that case and added that Harris will likely appeal her federal conviction.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, Ala. A man is locked up in the Mobile jail after attacking his father and stealing a truck.
Mobile Police Department officers responded after a man said that his son had attacked him.
31-year-old Brandon Fisher was arrested after officers were called to a home on the 3700 block of Alta Vista Drive East around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
When officers arrived at the home, the father said his son had physically attacked him.
Officers said that Fisher is also accused of stealing items from inside the home, as well as the truck.
Fisher was later located inside his father’s truck.
Fisher was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree elderly abuse and neglect, first-degree theft of property and possession of drug paraphernalia and booked into the Mobile Metro Jail.
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MOBILE, AL. Police were alerted to a burglary in progress and dispatched several officers to investigate. The information was that at least one person was seen inside a private property.
Officers responded on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at approximately 4:17 a.m., to the area of the 8000 block of David McCampbell Drive.
Upon arrival, police officers observed a male subject at the location.
Police detained the male and while conducting their investigation officers discovered the subject had removed copper wire from a home under construction.
Drew Forest, 34, was arrested and transported to Metro Jail.
He has been charged with burglary and theft.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 9:59 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2025, has claimed the life of a Summerdale man.
Alejandro Juaquin Pineda Hooper, 19, was fatally injured when the 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycle he was operating collided head-on with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra driven by Jennifer A. Stearns, 39, of Gainesville, Ga.
State troopers say that Hooper was pronounced deceased at the scene. Stearns was also injured and transported to University Hospital (USA) Health in Mobile for medical treatment.
The crash occurred on U.S. 31 near the 11-mile marker, approximately two miles north of Loxley city limits, in Baldwin County.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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MOBILE, AL. The Sheriff of Mobile County has announced the death of a prisoner inside the Mobile County Detention Facility.
On May 15, 2026, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was notified by staff at Mobile Metro Jail that inmate Dextarius Tierre Earies (DOB 01/16/1993) had passed away while being housed in the jail’s medical clinic.
MCSO Major Crimes Detectives responded to Mobile Metro Jail to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
An autopsy was performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
The sheriff’s department is not releasing the cause of death.
According to the sheriff’s office, an investigation is underway.
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MOBILE, AL. On Monday, May 18, 2026, at approximately 1:57 a.m., officers responded to the 1100 block of O’Donnell Street in reference to a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a male victim deceased outside of the home with a fatal gunshot injury.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered three female victims, and a male victim, had arrived at local hospitals a short time earlier with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.
Mobile police investigators is conducting an investigation into the shootings.
At this time, no additional information will be released by the mobile Police Department.
If anyone has any information that could assist in the investigation of this case, please contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous tip by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/crimetip.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. May is Water Safety Month, and it brings awareness to everyone how quickly a life can be lost in many bodies of water starting with your backyard swimming pool, to the vast oceans of our country.
Sadly, Alabama ranks among the highest in the nation for child drowning deaths, including as high as sixth place according to data on child drowning incidents.
These statistics continue to grow even with nationwide enhanced training and standardized water safety rules and the community organizations like the American Red Cross who promote water safety.
Here along the Alabama Gulf Coast with many inland lakes and rivers and the Gulf waters, we tragically see several drownings each year.
Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast we have frequent undertows and powerful, unpredictable rip currents.
An undertow is a natural, subsurface current that pulls water back toward the sea after waves break on the shore. While it creates a strong, temporary surge that can drag your feet and pull you down the beach, it generally does not drag swimmers far out to sea.
We also have deceptive sandbars that people may walk on and then they suddenly disappear leaving people treading water or going under the water.
At least 10 people die every day in the United States from drowning, according to the American Red Cross. The CDC says drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of four.
Nationwide, hundreds if not thousands of “near drownings” occur. These occur when a person goes under water and are rescued. Many need to be resuscitated and even hospitalized. Had a good Samaritan or a trained professional not been close by, these would have resulted in a fatal drowning.
“At least one person needs to be aware of each child,” Jeff Colton, a lifeguard and swim instructor said. “It’s very important to keep your eyes on the children in the water no matter what.”
Home pools are dangerous for young children, and it’s recommended that the pool no matter its size be protected by secure gates, pool alarms and U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets or floatation devices around the water. Parents should also talk with children early about how to safely exit a pool and what to do if they need help.
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FOLEY, Ala. Foley Police responded to a reported shooting at The Reserve Apartments on County Road 12 early Sunday morning.
Foley Fire and EMS were also dispatched to the scene.
Arriving officers found that one person who has been identified as Jermaine Snowden, 28, laying in a grassy area near the swimming pool and he was airlifted to a trauma center in Pensacola Florida where he died.
The Foley Police Department requested assistance from the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit, which is conducting the investigation.
Investigators have determined that Snowden had been in a physical altercation with a black male prior to being shot.
Police now believe that 20-year-old Jahquan Jamil Thompson was the shooter and a murder warrant was issued.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., Thompson was stopped in Coneuch County where he was taken into custody.
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MARLOW COMMUNITY, Ala. Firefighters from multiple Baldwin County fire departments were dispatched to a structure fire Thursday night at around 7:50 p.m.
As firefighters were responding they were able to see heavy smoke showing from the area of County Road 28.
Firefighters from Marlow/Fish River, Summerdale, Fairhope, and Barnwell were all dispatched to the working fire at 14400 County Road 28 and firefighters arrived to find that a mobile home was fully engulfed.
According to firefighters, the occupants were able to escape from their home before they arrived.
Firefighters had to use tanker trucks for their water supply because there were no hydrants in the area.
No injuries were reported.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. As a line was forming at the drive-thru of the Yellowhammer Coffee on Dauphin Street Friday morning as people were starting their day, an interesting, albeit dangerous thing happened.
As the baristas quickly worked inside the store filling their customers’ orders, a vehicle came crashing through the front of the building.
Mobile police and fire departments were dispatched to the wreck, but we’re told that no one was injured.
A post on social media soon afterwards confirmed that saying, “Regarding the incident at our Dauphin St. location, we just wanted to let everyone know that no one got hurt and our team is safe.
“Our lobby will be closed temporarily until further notice. Thanks everyone!”
Pictures later posted to social media showed a Ford pickup lodged into the building.
Police haven’t determined what happened but said that they are investigating.
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A fishing trip into the Gulf waters on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, ended with two passengers on board being injured.
From the information that we received at the Fort Morgan Marina, a boat, believed to be a charter with numerous people aboard, was hit by a large wave and at least two people were thrown to the deck and injured.
The U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency services were notified.
While emergency services monitored marine radio communications, the boat made its way into the Fort Morgan Marina several hours later, arriving at around 5:00 p.m. where the Fort Morgan Fire Department and several ambulances were waiting.
EMS transported the injured to an area hospital.
The US Coast guard told me that when an emergency call comes into their center, the on duty personnel assess the distance, travel time, and weather to determine if it is feasible to dispatch a rescue helicopter or to meet the vessel further into shore.
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MOBILE, AL. Police officers dispatched to a call regarding a person being harassed early Friday morning found once again in law enforcement that things can go haywire when you least expect it.
Mobile police said it was about 12:36 a.m. when officers were in the area of Dauphin Street and Joachim Street responding to a harassment complaint when they encountered Janti Robinson.
As officers were talking with the 30-year-old Grand Bay woman, Robinson walked away from an officer, refusing to comply. Police said she was detained for questioning and began kicking a patrol vehicle’s window.
Police said that’s also when they discovered that Robinson slipped one hand out of a handcuff and attempted to run away on foot. While detained, police said, she continued refusing officers’ commands to get back into the patrol vehicle.
Robinson began fighting officers, kicking and biting one of them trying to escape but she was brought under control and transported to the Mobile Metro Jail where she now faces charges of second-degree assault, third-degree escape, third-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental operations and public intoxication.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. A tragic, senseless murder of a north Alabama nurse has once again called attention to the rise in violence against healthcare workers.
A nurse, identified as 27-year-old Ada Doss was shot and killed in the south parking lot of the DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa.
According to the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Captain Jack Kennedy, with the violent crime’s unit, investigators identified the suspect involved in the shooting as 41-year-old Matthew James Taylor.
Kennedy said Taylor had been dropped off at DCH earlier in the day on his own request for help. However, he never entered the hospital or the emergency room; instead, he loitered on campus for several hours.
While on campus, Taylor reportedly tried to rob a woman who was already inside her car by waving a handgun and telling her to get out of her car. Police said the woman was able to drive away.
Shortly after, a nurse, identified as Doss, was walking to her car during shift change when police said she was approached by Taylor, who once again was flashing a handgun.
Authorities said Taylor tried to take Doss’ purse and during that interaction, he shot her with malice. According to authorities, Doss died at the scene. Taylor then went through her purse while also trying to take her car.
Captain Kennedy stated that Tuscaloosa police responded, finding Taylor still armed and only feet away from where he had shot Doss. Authorities said Taylor showed signs of mental illness and he was taken into custody.
The 41-year-old, who has a reported limited criminal history, is facing charges that include capital murder. Police said there is no connection between Taylor and Doss.
“We are all grieving today. Ada Doss was a member of our DCH family,” the hospital shared in a statement. “This tragic crime was the result of a mental health crisis that could have taken place anywhere, but regretfully, it took place in our parking lot.”
Extreme violence against medical professionals ranging from paramedics to doctors have seen a substantial rise during the past fifteen years.
48% of recorded nonfatal injuries in healthcare are due to workplace violence, with healthcare workers experiencing more incidents than any other sector of private industry between 2021 and 2022.
91% of emergency physicians reported being a victim of violence or having a colleague who was, with 71% believing violence is getting worse.
57,610 nonfatal cases of workplace violence requiring days away from work occurred in 2021-2022, with women making up 72.5% of these cases.
54,000 nonfatal incidents of workplace violence in healthcare were reported in 2022, with night shifts accounting for about 30% of these incidents.
57,610 nonfatal cases of workplace violence requiring days away from work, job restriction, or transfer occurred in 2021-2022, with women making up 78.2% of these cases. These statistics underscore the need for comprehensive safety systems and prevention programs to protect healthcare workers from the increasing risk of violence.
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