Hokes Bluff News

Hokes Bluff Man Held On $1 Million Bond, Facing Murder, Abuse of Corpse Charges

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:52


Jeremy Wayne Grissom, 25 Hokes Bluff	Monica Michelle Payne, 28 Fort Payne, AL

(Hokes Bluff, AL - May 20, 2010) 25 year old Jeremy Wayne Grissom of Hokes Bluff is being held on $1 million bond and charges of murder and abuse of a corpse. Grissom allegedly struck his girlfriend, 28 year old Monica Michelle Payne of Fort Payne, killing her sometime Wednesday.

Hokes Bluff Police Captain Mitchell Hill says his department received a dispatch from the County 9-1-1 office at 6:56 p.m. The call was made by members of Grissom's family who dropped in on the couple at his home, located at 5588 Clinton Street in Hokes Bluff. The family discovered him attempting to prepare the body for disposal, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

District Attorney Jimmie Harp says that while an autopsy is underway and a definitive answer is not yet ready, the cause of death is speculated to be blunt force trauma to the head. He says Payne was likely hit by an object and also by her boyfriend's hands. Her body is reported to have been severely beaten.

Grissom then allegedly begin preparing Payne's body for disposal. Sheriff Entrekin reports that the suspect "wrapped her body with lots of plastic and duct tape." The sheriff says the body was then packed into a duffle bag before attempting to clean the crime scene.

After Payne's murder, Grissom is alleged to have used bleach and peroxide to clean up the crime scene of blood splatters. Entrekin alleges that he then emptied his house of her belongings, packed her car and then parked that car at a nearby Hokes Bluff apartment complex. "If his family members had not come when they did, we'd be searching for her body, instead of standing here announcing an arrest," Entrekin said during the press conference.

When asked about motive, District Attorney Jimmie Harp says all indications currently are that it began as a domestic violence incident that then turned into a murder.

Jeremy Grissom has exercised his rights and obtained an attorney and has refused to answer questions, Entrekin says. He will appear before a judge within the 72 hours allowed by law, according to Harp. Harp says the charges could escalate to capital murder of the evidence collected in the ongoin investigation requires it.

Hokes Bluff Man in Jail, Girlfriend Dead

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:52

Jeremy W Grissom, 25
Currently being detained for another law enforcement agency, suspected in the homicide of a Hokes Bluff woman.

(Hokes Bluff, AL - May 19, 2010) Etowah County Sheriff's deputies, and Hokes Bluff Police are continuing an investigation into the apparent homicide of a Hokes Bluff woman around 7 pm Wednesday night.

A press release issued tonight indicates that 25 year old Jeremy Grissom, also of Hokes Bluff was placed into custody and transported to the James Hayes Etowah County Detention Center. Grissom is suspected in the homicide of 28 year old Monica Payne.

Payne was found inside a residence at 5588 Clinton Street in Hokes Bluff following a domestic violence call around 7 p.m. to 9-1-1. Grissom was taken into custody at the residence when Hokes Bluff Police arrived on the scene.

Sheriff Entrekin says the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released when they are available.

According to individuals living close to the residence, Payne is being identified as Grissom's girlfriend, although that information has not been corroborated by law enforcement officials at this time.

Hokes Bluff Ferry Sale On Hold "For Now"

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:52

(Gadsden, AL - May 11, 2010) The Etowah County Commission received word this week that the Federal Highway Administration has received confirmation of the county's request that they concur with the application to sell the Hokes Bluff Ferry to the Coast Regional Transportation Authority in South Carolina. The letter of approval sought by the county will allow the county to transfer the ferry, but FHWA officials aren't quite sure they can actually approve the request.

FHWA officials informed the county in April that the state transportation department would have to notify the administration of the desire to transfer the boat to South Carolina. State DOT Head Joe McInnes informed the county that the request had been forwarded to the federal agency. But, that request is not in the agency's legal department. Graves has said previously that the administration "isn't quite sure" how to handle the situation.

Any proceeds from the sale will first go to the federal agency before the county would receive payment for any of the almost $90,000 spent locally on the as yet unused new Hokes Bluff Ferry.

Ball Play Man Accused of Robbery

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:52

Robert Lee Holcomb, Ball Play

(Gadsden, AL - October 12, 2009) Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin says that 34 year old Ball Play man, Robert Lee Holcomb is being charged with robbery and criminal mischief in connection with an October 8th indicent on Tom Cat Road.

Holcomb is charged with one count of third degree robbery, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of third degree criminal mischief.

According to a press release from the Sheriff's office, Holcomb allegedly approached an indiviudal walking along the Ball Play community road on October 8th, and approached the victim with a metal stick. Holcomb then, according to the release, stole a cell phone and a set of keys from the victim. After the robbery occured, Holcomb then slashed all four tires on the victim's vehicle.

Holcomb was released on $3,000 bond.

A second suspect was detained, questioned and released.

Ballplay Man Accused of Forgery

Friday, 10 September 2010 03:52

James "Jamie" Lincoln Lowe

(Gadsden, AL - October 9, 2009) The Etowah County Sheriff's Department is charging a 30 year old Ballplay man with two counts of second degree forgery, according to a press release this morning.

Sheriff Todd Entrekin identified the man as James "Jamie" Lincoln Lowe, of Ballplay. According to the press release, Lowe withdrew about $750 out of a relatives' bank account at a local bank. The fraudulent activity was noticed by a bank employee when the man tried to withdraw money for a third time.

Lowe withdrew money on October 1st and 2nd, and was booked into the James Hayes Detention Center on these charges on October 8th.