FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
July 7, 2016
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES THAT COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UPHOLDS GENEVA COUNTY MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals last Friday upheld the murder conviction of Shawn
Adkison. Adkison, 42, of Slocumb, was convicted in Geneva County Circuit Court in
August of 2015 for the murder of Debbie Ayers.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Adkison was involved in a dispute with
Ayers and that he killed her on August 14, 2014. Ayers died of blunt force trauma to
the head.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Geneva County District Attorney Kirke
Adams’ office. Adkison was sentenced to a term of 85 years’ imprisonment. Adkison
subsequently sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section handled the case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, July 1.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Beth Slate
Poe of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section for her successful work in this
case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
