Two arrested in Oregon in slaying of 7 in Alabama
(Update: Adding Oregon arrest details)
DECATUR, Ala. (AP) — Two men belonging to a club called the “seven deadly sins” have been arrested in an Oregon traffic stop in the slaying of seven people in north Alabama, authorities announced Monday.
Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett said John Michael Legg, 20, and Frederic Allen Rogers, 23, were arrested Sunday during a traffic stop in Marion County, Oregon. They are awaiting extradition to Alabama to face capital murder charges.
Seven people — three women and four men — were found dead on June 5 in a home that had been set on fire. A dog also was found dead in the home, a brick, ranch-style structure.
The sheriff did not give a possible motive for the slayings, but said they believe three of the victims were in a club with the two suspects called “the seven deadly sins.” The sheriff described it as a local club, but did not elaborate.
“We believe it was just a local club of some of our victims and these two guys. They were forming a club and calling themselves the seven deadly sins.” Puckett said. He said he does not believe there is a continued threat to the area.
Around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Marion County sheriff's deputies, along with the county's SWAT Team, stopped a silver-gray Dodge Charger with Alabama license plates, two days after arrest warrants were issued for the two men in related to a mass shooting in Valhermoso Springs, near Huntsville, Alabama, deputies said.
Rogers and Legg were taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Marion County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Alabama. Marion County deputies thanked the Oregon FBI and Aumsville police for their assistance with the safe capture of the two fugitives.
It was not immediately clear if Legg and Rogers have an attorney representing them.
“To the families of the victims, I want to say our investigators did not give up on your loved ones. These arrests will begin your journey to justice,” Puckett said.
Authorities identified six of the victims: Tammy England Muzzey, 45, of Valhermoso Springs; Emily Brooke Payne, 21, of Valhermoso Springs; Roger Lee Jones Jr., 19, of Decatur; Jeramy Wade Roberts, 31, of Athens and William Zane Hodgin, 18, of Sommerville, WHNT-TV reported. The name of a 17-year-old female victim was not released.
Legg and Rogers do not have a criminal record, the sheriff said.
