Store owner killed, suspect charged

By Brent Maze

The Clanton Advertiser

CLANTON &045; A 20-year-old male was charged yesterday with the murder of a Clanton alterations shop owner.

Jamarius D. Walls, 20, of Maplesville was charged with the capital murder of Carolyn Ferguson, the owner of Alterations by Carolyn. The suspect allegedly killed Ferguson in the back room of her store on Friday.

The suspect was arrested Friday on an unrelated charge at his residence in Maplesville.

Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis said investigators were acting on witness information that a car matching the description of Walls’ vehicle was seen at the business where Ferguson was killed shortly before she was discovered.

Police did not know if Walls could be a witness, a suspect or if he was even present at the store that morning.

During the course of Walls’ arrest on the unrelated charge, however, investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered items that they believe connect Walls to the murder, according to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Department.

A second search warrant was served Friday night at a Clanton residence during which investigators also recovered items that they believe connect Walls to the murder, the statement indicated.

In the early stages of the investigation, authorities thought a second suspect might be arrested, but investigators are confident &8220;there is not a second suspect and that the person responsible is in custody.&8221;

Davis said he would like to compliment the county’s Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force on a great job. The Task Force is composed of investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Clanton Police Department, Jemison Police Department and Thorsby Police Department.

The Sheriff’s Office has not released any information regarding the suspect’s possible motive in the crime.

Anyone who has any information about Friday’s murder is asked to contact the Clanton Police Department or the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department.