Four arrested in Waverly murder case

Chambers County District Attorney Paul Jones said speculation that the murder of a man whose body was found in Waverly last week may have been gang related is just that - speculation.

“There is speculation among law enforcement that it is gang related…. (It is) just speculation at this point,” Jones said.

In a press conference Tuesday in Alexander City, Jones announced that four people have been arrested and charged in the death of Timothy Heard, 20.

Jonathan Askew, 19, and Michael Morris, 18, were both arrested and charged with murder, Jones said.

Frankie Anthony Bradford, 19, was charged with capital murder, which makes him eligible for the death penalty. One other person, whose name is not being released because he is younger than 18, was arrested, Jones said. The men are being held at the Chambers County Jail.

Jones said Heard was shot multiple times.

Information from “outside sources” and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation lead to the arrests, Jones said.

The men are in the process of acquiring lawyers and setting preliminary hearings, Jones said.

Heard’s body was found in Waverly near the Tallapoosa County line, a short distance from the murder scene, Jones said.

“We believe he had been dead at least hours maybe days,” Jones said.

Additional search warrants may be issued and more interviews may be conducted in connection with the case, which is still under investigation, Jones said.

“We suspect there are other people who had input in the very least,” he said, referring to other people potentially involved in the crime.