FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
August 8, 2018
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
AG STEVE MARSHALL ANNOUNCES THAT COURT OF CRIMINAL
APPEALS UPHOLDS MOBILE COUNTY CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama
Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the capital murder conviction of Saraya Shakai
Atkins. Atkins, 24, of Mobile, was convicted in Mobile County Circuit Court in September
2016 for the murder of Robert Perry. Atkins also was convicted of first-degree robbery and
third-degree theft.
Evidence at trial established that on March 11, 2014, Perry took his stepdaughter to
Walmart to cash her income tax refund check, where they were observed by Atkins and
another woman, Kimberli Lindsay. When Perry and his stepdaughter left in their vehicle,
Atkins and Lindsey followed in another vehicle, pulled in front of their vehicle, and
slammed on the brakes to stop them. Atkins got out, walked to Perry’s window, shoved a
gun in the vehicle, and demanded: “Give me your wallet.” Perry started to give her his
wallet, but Atkins said she wanted the stepdaughter’s wallet instead. As Atkins leaned
further into the vehicle, Perry tried to grab the gun and a struggle ensued. Atkins fired
three shots killing Perry. Atkins took the stepdaughter’s wallet with $1,902. The two
women fled but were shortly apprehended by police.
Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich prosecuted the case in circuit court.
Atkins was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the capital
murder conviction, life imprisonment for the first-degree robbery conviction, and one year
for the third-degree theft of property conviction. Subsequently, Atkins appealed her
convictions.
Also, in January 2017, Atkins’ co-defendant, Kymberli Lindsay, pleaded guilty to
felony-murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Lindsay also pleaded guilty to
robbery in the first degree for which she was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division represented the State during
Atkins’ appeal, urging the Court of Criminal Appeals to reject Atkins’ arguments and for
for the Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the convictions. On August 3, 2018, that court
affirmed Atkins’ convictions and sentences.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General William Dill of
the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division for his successful work in this case.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
