Newsome dies at 30
Published: November 1, 2009
Rosemary Latrice Newsome, 30, who was tried and acquitted in 2008 of the murder of former Opelika-Auburn News dock worker James “Captain” Heard, has died after an extended illness.
Newsome was acquitted June 25, 2008, for the murder of Heard, who Newsome claimed was her common-law husband, although according to reports at the time, she was lawfully married to another man. Heard, a 57-year-old grandfather, was shot to death in the Alabama Highway 51 residence in Beauregard he shared with Newsome on Aug. 14, 2007, just hours after he left work at the newspaper office.
Newsome, who had four children at the time of the trial and, according to her obituary information, is survived by five, spent nearly 10 months in jail outside of Lee County awaiting trial. She was incarcerated in Russell County, and later Elmore County, because of an ongoing lawsuit she had filed against the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 2002. According to federal court documents, in the lawsuit Newsome alleged she was assaulted at the Lee County jail while she was being held on a previous unrelated charge.
Newsome, who contended her innocence throughout the proceedings, died Thursday at the Bethany House in Auburn.
Pick up a copy of the Opelika-Auburn News for full obituary information.
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Reader Reactions
I am shocked that OA News is so insensitive to Rosemary’s family, especially her children. I feel OA News is what assisted her in receiving 10 months in jail because they twisted everyting she said prior to her being arrested. Anyway, it’s neither here nor there, now. There are countless other individuals who have committed crimes and died in the Auburn/Opelika area but I never saw a “follow-up”. Come on, OA News - try to show a little respect and sensitivity for the family. I would boycott your newspaper forever if I were them because I certainly plan to! Also, I have been trying for months to get you all to run an article which is very positive but I have yet to receive a response. I feel you all are very low-down and dirty to do this to Rosemary’s family!!
Thank you Lolly. I could not have said it better myself. It is ridiculous that OA news ran this article. Don’t you think her children are going through enough right now without dragging up something from the past that she was found INNOCENT on???
This woman was found NOT guilty, why subject her children and family to this type of article. They are grieving for their mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, etc.
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