Chris Stanback Murder: From a Riot to a Whimper

Eddie Frank Chandler has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1994 murder of teenager Christopher Stanback (pictured). Almost two decades ago, Chris' death caused a near riot situation:

The Christopher Stanback Murder

Now in the summer of 2012, Chandler's plea agreement calls for a mere sentence of 15 years, a sentence that will likely entail Correctional Incentive Time and a possible release in five years. Perhaps the saddest part, next to the death of a young man, is that many others were presumed guilty of a crime of which they knew nothing.

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Our sympathies to the family and friends of Beth Childers. Several have emailed us today concerning a woman who made a difference in her community. We hope to have more later in a celebration of her life.



Shoalanda

Eddie Frank Chandler: Three Years or Thirty?

Eddie Frank Chandler was 17 when he allegedly murdered Chris Stanback. Because of his age when the crime was committed, he cannot be charged with and tried for capital murder. He is currently being charged with felony murder, a crime that could bring a life sentence with the chance of parole. If convicted, Chandler would at some point be considered and granted parole, but one could expect him to serve as much as 30 years before such a parole would be offered.

What if Chandler should be granted youthful offender status? He would then serve three years. That is what Chandler's attorney is now requesting. We doubt that Judge Gil Self will grant Chandler's request, but if he should, the sentence could be ordered to run concurrently with any conviction for theft that may await Chandler. In other words, if Eddie Frank Chandler did kill Chris Stanback, he could in effect serve no extra time for this heinous murder.

We fervently hope Judge Self will refuse Chandler's request for youthful offender status. The Stanback family has waited long enough for justice in Chris' death.

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If you're going to the Handy Parade tonight, be sure to give a shout out to the Kudzu Queens. This wonderful group of women do much good for the area as well as offering some much needed humor.

Shoalanda

Eddie Chandler Claims Innocence/Willie Lyons Resigns

As predicted, Eddie Frank Chandler made his first court appearance yesterday. What was not predicted was his avowal of innocence. Arrest? Yes. Confession? Apparently not...

What are the odds Chandler acted alone in the 1994 murder of Chris Stanback? This is what one reader wrote:

Ok.....what I am trying to figure out is how did one young boy do all of that to someone alone? I was supposed to meet Chris the day he disappeared and I called his home and Rudy told me he left in a car with some white guys and he would be right back......what happened to all that info because it sure is different now.

As stated before, the trial may provide more twists than a Patricia Cornwell novel.

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According to an article in The Connection, Community Corrections Director Willie Lyons has resigned from the position he assumed in 2009.

Related post: Lauderdale County Work Release

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Any, ahem, matchbook collectors out there? Here's one from D. B. Reid's Texaco in Tuscumbia: Link



Shoalanda

Two Bombshells? Maybe it is the Rapture...

Okay, we need to pull our tongue out of our cheek and be serious. Friday offered two major bombshells--one in Lauderdale County and one in Colbert County. First we'll tackle the Lauderdale announcement of an indictment in the 1994 slaying of Christopher Stanback.

We first mentioned the rumored confession in Chris' murder on March 30, or roughly 50 days ago. Why the delay in the announcement? Obviously Lauderdale District Attorney Chris Connolly could not be certain an indictment would be forthcoming. Were there other reasons? We have no answer to this question, but since Eddie Frank Chandler was the only suspect indicted, we seriously doubt that others will be charged in this case.

The trial, assuming Chandler doesn't plead, will be the stuff of which novels are written. Let's hope it brings closure to the Stanback family.

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Did you read this story in The Connection?

COLBERT COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL BOARD UPHOLDS FIRING OF CONTROL OFFICER TAMMY GREEN

If these allegations prove to be true, a major investigation and quite probably legal proceedings would be in order. Why do so many, from presidents to governors to judges to sheriffs to dog catchers fail to realize that our tax dollars are not their personal bankroll to support or employ their current romantic flings? We work hard for our money, and most of us are happy to pay taxes to support animal welfare...that's welfare, not lust.



Shoalanda

Special Report: Eddie Frank Chandler Indicted in Chris Stanback Murder

Eddie Frank Chandler (Eddie Haskell in our recent blog) has been indicted for the 1994 murder of Chris Stanback. Did he do it? As D.K. says, "Justice for all, even the victims."

The Chris Stanback Murder

Confession!

Did Killer Act Alone?

Did Chris Stanback's Killer Act Alone?

Has someone really confessed to murdering 17 year-old Christopher Stanback in 1994? We believe the answer is yes. Who is this confessed killer? The name has not been confirmed, so we will only call him Eddie Haskell, the noted ne'er do well from an ancient television show.

Why would Eddie confess now? And why would this amazing confession after sixteen years not be made public immediately? We have no definite answers, but can offer some logical explanations.

Eddie Haskell is now 33, making him the same age as Chris, or as Chris would be if he were alive. We can find no public record of Eddie until 2002 when he was charged with the attempted murder of a man who had argued with his sister. Four years later, Eddie seemed to be in the wrong place at wrong time and was charged with the possession of drug paraphernalia while at a friend's apartment.

However, the past few months have been busy for Eddie. In December he was charged with receiving stolen goods and again in February for burglary. He currently remains in custody at the Lauderdale County Detention Center. Perhaps Eddie sees no way out of his current predicament and is eager to cut a deal, but what kind of deal?

Is Eddie "dropping a dime" on others involved in the heinous murder of Chris Stanback? Does that mean we can expect more arrests before the anticipated news conference early next week? Join us as we wait...

Related posts:

Confession in Stanback Murder Case?

Who Killed Rudy?

The Chris Stanback Murder



Shoalanda

Confession in Christoper Stanback Murder Case!

For two days we have been hearing of a break in the Chris Stanback murder case. While we believe the information we have received is correct, we have not been able to corroborate it in its entirety.

Sources say a 33 year-old Florence man has confessed to the murder after being questioned by police concerning a burglary. We will not give the man's name until it is confirmed, but it is not a name that we have previously heard in connection with this heinous crime.

Many prayers have been answered in this case. Thanks to the Florence Police Department as well as the ABI for continuing to have faith that Chris' murderer would eventually be caught. Also many thanks to Councilman Sam Pendleton for all his efforts during the initial investigation.

We have been told that a news release may not be forthcoming until next week. In the mean time, any information that can be verified is appreciated. Please send your comments to: shoalanda.speaks@gmail.com

For more on Chris' story: The Christopher Stanback Murder



Shoalanda

Who Killed Rudy?

On Friday afternoon, Vincent Lavert Ingram turned himself in to Florence police for the murder of Harold (Rudy) Stanback. Authorities say the shooting that took the life of Chris Stanback's older brother was the culmination of an ongoing argument. Readers have e-mailed us to ask if there is any connection to Chris' murder. While we can rule nothing out, we are highly doubtful that the two are related.

Ingram is 30 years old and, according to friends, not currently employed. In May of last year, he was living with his mother Kathy Doss at 2371 Norwood Boulevard in Norwood Park, a Florence subdivision, when he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Ingram's record shows two similar arrests from 2006 while he was living at 331 Cherokee Street in West Florence. The specific charges in those incidents involved marijuana and drug paraphernalia. In 2004, Ingram and a roommate, Torrey Levar Hampton, were charged with second degree assault and given probation.

Authorities are still looking for Gerald Bernard Doss, Ingram's half-brother. Doss also has a 2005 arrest for possession of a controlled substance. Sources say police are also attempting to question Trudy Simpson whom phone and utility records list as the householder of 424 West Irvine Avenue where the murder occurred. At one time, Simpson worked as a teacher's aide for West Way, a public child care facility sponsored by the city of Florence.

Another reader informs us that Chris and Rudy's sister Tara is also no stranger to law enforcement. In 2005, Tara Michelle Stanback shot bystander Carlos Thompson while attempting to shoot her estranged boyfriend Thad Lewis. She was charged with assault and given probation. It would seem the Stanback family is a walking poster for gun control. We hope others will learn from these incidents, but we're not holding our breath.


What's up with this: No national championship for the University of Alabama? According to our own Madam Zara, the Crimson Tide is about to suffer its first loss of the season. Wonder if they're listening in Vegas?

Shoalanda

First Chris Stanback; Now Rudy

Christopher Eugene Stanback (pictured) would be 32 years old if he had lived. Instead, Chris died fifteen years ago in a murder that is still unsolved. Last year we wrote about Chris' death and the effect it's had on his family. The Christopher Stanback Murder has produced as many comments, if not more, than any of our crime blogs. Yet, no one has any real evidence, any new information that will help authorities solve his homicide.

Now, his brother Rudy, 33, is also dead, the victim of a needless shooting at what was intended to be a Thanksgiving celebration. The fatal party took place at the home of Trudy Simpson, only three blocks west of the University of North Alabama. Another life has been lost, and the lives of two other young men have been radically changed forever. If any good can arise from this, we hope those who have information concerning Chris' death will now come forward. There's a $20,000.00 reward and a grieving mother still waiting.


Kudos: To Jen's Cafe on South Pine Street in Florence for once again serving a free Thanksgiving meal to one and all. We hope all our readers will try Jen's, known for its fantastic lunches and delicious deserts.

Shoalanda

Questions? Answers!

Question: (Sent to E.T.) I need to contact Shoalanda and I can't find her e-mail address. Help?
Answer: We apologize that it's been hard to find. Look to the left of the blog in the section labeled "Contact Us."


Question: You listed the address for Halt. Contacting them doesn't do any good when you need to file an ethics complaint. Can you publish the correct address?
Answer: The link to Halt listed the information at the bottom of their first page (for ethics complaints against judges only); here is the address:

Judicial Inquiry Committee
Post Office Box 303400
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-3400


Question: Is there an easy way to copy and send your blogs? My touch pad mouse isn't very handy with cut and paste.
Answer: If you would like to send the entire column, complete with graphics, find the column in the index, click on it, then print. If you wish to just e-mail the column, you may click on the envelope icon at the bottom of each blog. You will need a Google account to utilize this feature.


Question: I tried to leave a comment about Jimmy Sandlin on the Courthouse Forum and couldn't find a way to do it. Any ideas?
Answer: You first have to complete the survey form in order to leave a comment. We have also linked both the Alabama forum and the completed comments on Lauderdale Family Court to the left of this blog.


Question: What's the new blog Shoals Crime supposed to be?
Answer: Shoals Crime will include past columns on local crime as well as new articles about older Shoals crimes. Today we are reprinting the column on the Chris Stanback murder, since it was featured in Friday's TimesDaily. The Shoals Crime blog is also linked at left.


Please feel free to contact us with further questions and ideas for articles.

Thanks, SS

Unsolved Murders: Christopher Stanback - Part II

Results of the initial autopsy indicated Chris Stanback had died of head trauma, but offered few clues as to the murderer. Many speculated that the mutilation included castration, making it a very personal crime.

Chris' brother Harold, nicknamed Rudy, was a known drug dealer. The two brothers bore more than a slight resemblance to each other; was it a case of mistaken identity? Just two weeks before his death, Chris had been apprehended in Cullman with a group of older drug dealers. Since Chris had refused to claim the confiscated drugs, was his murder in retaliation?

Perhaps the most bizarre rumor concerned the involvement of prominent Florence officials. It had been widely reported that Chris was dating the daughter of a high ranking city employee. Everyone close to the situation knew this single father had expressed grave concerns about the relationship. Had this official recruited police chief Rick Thompson to help him dispose of the problem?

Weeks turned into months, and there was still no answer to the mystery of Chris' death. Various local officials offered a $10,000.00 reward in the case, and Chris' uncle promised a matching amount if anyone could help solve the crime. Eventually local police asked the FBI to investigate, calling it a possible hate crime. Years passed, and officials were still no closer to an answer.

The Stanback family remained determined to bring the murderer to justice. Hearing that Chris' age classified the crime as a child murder, they asked the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to enter the case. In April 2003, Chris Stanback's body was exhumed for a second autopsy, but the results offered no new evidence. Several Florence police officers took polygraph tests at this time; all of them passed. The investigation was back to square one.

Currently, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the Stanback murder, considering it one of their top priorities. Teresa Stanback still places reward posters around the area and hopes that someone will come forward after fourteen years. She laments that her son's grave has been repeatedly vandalized. Some days it's hard for her to find the strength to go on, but she has never given up hope.

This case has often been compared to that of Emmitt Till, the young black man murdered in 1950s Mississippi. Emmitt's murderers were eventually found; let's hope Chris' are too.


What's up with this: Quinn Ranch, a home for orphaned and problem boys in Red Bay, is sponsoring a deer hunt for the youths in January. Who came up with the idea of teaching these troubled boys how to use guns?

Unsolved Murders: Christopher Stanback - Part I

Chris Stanback's MySpace profile lists his age as 31, but his photograph is that of a 17 year-old boy, the age at which the Colbert County teenager died. The accompanying short bio prominently features the $20,000.00 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, evidence of the desperation haunting the Stanback family for the past 14 years.

The summer of 1994, Christopher Stanback, known to his friends as Chris, returned from his home in Idaho to spend the summer with his mother Teresa, brother Harold, and sister Tara. On August 2, 1994, Teresa Stanback reported her son missing. Four days later, two children playing in a wooded area near the Carver Heights housing project found a body.

Speculation that the body was Chris' spread throughout the West Florence neighborhood, and soon a crowd of over one hundred spectators had gathered to watch Florence Police retrieve the remains. Many in the crowd of predominately young males tossed rocks and bottles at the authorities as they tried to move the body without disturbing any forensic evidence. Helicopters hovered overhead, their presence having no discernible effect on the crowd that was rapidly growing into a mob.

It had been less than three months since Florence Police officers had conducted a nighttime raid on the black neighborhood, arresting numerous drug dealers in what then Florence Police Chief Rick Thompson had dubbed Operation Copy Cat. To most of the gathering mob, Chris Stanback's death was just more proof that the police couldn't be trusted. Fortunately, local black leaders managed to control the growing crowd when authorities couldn't. Once the barrage of rock and bottle missiles halted, police retrieved the body and secured the scene.

Those who saw Chris Stanback's body realized that more than four days of summer sun had left an imprint on the murdered youth. What an autopsy later determined to be the results of a combination of beating and mutilation, the police took to be evidence that the body had been burned before it was disposed of. While their initial finding may have been easily explained under the circumstances, it only served to enforce the black community's opinion of the Florence Police Department: Truth was the last thing on their minds.

To be continued...