Man accused of shooting, killing family member in altercation, police say
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Limestone County Sheriff's Office said a man is accused of shooting and killing a family member Friday.
LCSO said around 7 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting incident in the 17000 block of Kelley Drive in Athens.
Upon arrival, LCSO said deputies found the body of Todd Robert Jennett, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Also at the scene was Michael Stephen Esposito, 63, of Athens, Alabama. After securing the scene, investigators began a thorough investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that Jennett and Esposito, his stepfather, had been involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. During the dispute, Esposito reportedly produced a firearm and shot Jennett multiple times.
Michael Esposito was taken into custody at the scene without incident and was transported to the Limestone County Jail. He is currently being held pending an Aniah's Law hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
33-year-old man arrested for human trafficking after sting operation
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A 33-year-old man was arrested for Human Trafficking after being a focus point of a sting operation that took place last year. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit executed a Grand Jury Arrest warrant for Human Trafficking on Jeremy Scott Peek, 33 of Danville on Monday, June 16. According to MCSO, a Sexual Predator Operation took place in 2024. The purpose of the operation was to identify, investigate, and arrest predators seeking children for sexual acts. On Friday, April 26, 2024, The Morgan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, assisted by their Drug Enforcement Unit, Morgan County District Attorney's Office, US Army Cyber Special Agents and Limestone County Sheriff's Office conducted an operation focused on Child Sex Trafficking. As a result of the operation, Peek was arrested and charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child and Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act. He was released on a $250,000 bond. For his human trafficking charge, Peek is currently being held with no bond at the Morgan County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Judge denies request for new trial after State finds Red Bay daycare worker's credentials were forged
RED BAY, Ala. (WHNT) — Attorneys for a Red Bay daycare worker motioned for a new trial, saying the State introduced forged credentials as evidence. Judge Brian Hamilton has denied the motion. Payton Gann's trial for her alleged role in the death of 4-month-old Autumn Wells began Monday. She is facing a manslaughter charge. The State introduced the forged certificates into evidence during the testimony of a DHR investigator on Thursday. The investigator said Gann's DHR file showed that she completed the state-required childcare training of 21 and a half hours. According to court documents, after the close of evidence in court on June 12, the State disclosed to Gann's attorneys that the certificates showing the completion of several training courses were 'in fact, forgeries.' The prosecutors said they were unaware at the time they were brought into evidence that the certificates were forged. 'Whether or not Gann received training on the prevention of SIDS and sleepingenvironments for infants is material evidence that would aid the jury in determining herguilt,' Gann's attorney wrote. He added that the introduction of the forged evidence violates his client's rights to due process and a fair trial under the Fifth Amendment and Section I, Article 6 of the Alabama Constitution. In August 2022, Gann filed a motion for discovery to request that the State provide any information, material, possible testimony, potential evidence or evidence that may be helpful to the defense. Gann's lawyers said that the information about the forged certificates was suppressed until after the close of evidence, even though it was helpful to Gann 'for impeachment of the State's witnesses.' The document continues, saying that the DHR investigator who testified on Thursday said she had gotten the forgeries as part of her investigation for the State of Alabama. She also said that the certificates were for seminars conducted by DHR as part of the policies and procedures. 'The [DHR] worker either knew or should have known the certificates were fraudulent if she had cross-referenced the certificates found in Gann's file at Tiny Tigers with the state system,' Gann's attorneys added. In response, the State noted the 'overwhelming evidence of the Defendant's guilt… inclusive of, but not exclusive to, evidence of numerous false statements given to laypersons as well as investigators.' The prosecutors also spoke with the Autumn Wells' family, who said they did not wish to endure the retrial. Prosecutors stated in the court document that they deny that any evidence was 'suppressed,' saying that the State and DHR were both unaware that the certificates were forgeries. The efforts to prove whether they were forged or not began on June 12 after it was suggested they were fake. The State contacted the vendor that provided the online training. Late Thursday afternoon, after testimony for the day had concluded and jurors had been dismissed, the vendor reached out to prosecutors to tell them that the 'certificates could possibly have been forged by the daycare owner.' Following that, the State said they had a conference call with the Defendant's counsel and the Court to inform them of what the vendor said. The State then issued a subpoena to develop more information. The motion, filed June 12, 2025, was denied by Judge Hamilton on June 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Cullman Co. officials provide update on Rock the South ahead of event
CULLMAN, Ala. (WHNT) – Several Cullman County officials held a news conference on Friday ahead of the upcoming Rock the South event beginning on June 19. The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Cullman Police Department and District Attorney Champ Crocker provided safety and traffic information for those planning to attend the festival. News 19 attended this morning's news conference. You can watch it in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
