Social media activity indicates that an Alabama man, implicated in the deaths of a military veteran and his wife, had been sharing posts about their families for years as though they were close friends.
George Birmingham, 46, was taken into custody early on Sunday under suspicion of murdering Justin and Lena Elrod. Their bodies were discovered shortly after midnight following a call regarding a robbery. Birmingham was reportedly a longtime friend of the couple and had spoken positively about them in his posts as recently as June 16.
According to a Facebook post that Fox News Digital examined, Birmingham and the Elrods had maintained a friendship for about ten years, with the post hinting at their long-standing connection.
In one post from June 16, Birmingham contemplated taking a trip to a hypothetical colony on Mars and listed the friends and family he’d like to invite, including the Elrods. He remarked, “No one listens as well as he does, and no one enjoys discussions as much as she does,” and wrapped it up with, “Love you all!”
He later jokingly noted that they might not want to join their group, adding, “But I’m very grateful to them.”
Back in February 2017, Birmingham promoted a GoFundMe campaign intended to help cover medical expenses for one of the Elrod children, stating, “This family is very close to my heart.” He even organized a benefit comedy show that May to further assist the Elrod family financially.
In another post from June 2018, he referred to the Elrod family, mentioning “My favorite women” alongside a picture of one of their daughters.
Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the murders, but they described Birmingham as an “acquaintance” of the Elrods. He stands accused of killing Lena with a power saw and attacking Justin with a metal object, possibly inflicting head injuries, according to court documents.
The mayor of Aliceville, Terrence Windham, characterized Justin Elrod as a modest individual who likely could not conceive of such a tragedy occurring. “He was a very humble guy and couldn’t have imagined something like this could happen,” Windham stated. “He survived the military, he survived his stint in prison, and now this situation is getting even worse.”
Additionally, authorities indicated that Birmingham is also suspected in a robbery that took place prior to the alleged murders of the Elrods.
Birmingham faces serious charges: one count of capital murder, two counts of murder, one count of robbery, and other drug-related offenses. A preliminary hearing is slated for August 20.
