Crime & Safety
Foul Play Suspected After Person Of Interest In Old Fayette Road Death Investigation Found Dead Near Scene
Police confirm the person of interest named in a death investigation in northern Tuscaloosa County earlier this week was found Thursday.
NORTHPORT, AL — Investigators have confirmed a person of interest named in a death investigation in northern Tuscaloosa County earlier this week was found dead near the initial scene on Thursday.
Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.
As Patch previously reported, 37-year-old Erik Bradley Thomas was mentioned by police as a person of interest after the body of Terance Smith was found early Monday morning at an abandoned home off Old Fayette Road near the intersection with Highway 43.
Find out what's happening in Tuscaloosafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said Thomas had been reported missing by his family following the death investigation Monday and was found dead on Old Fayette Road roughly a mile from where Smith's body was discovered.
Kennedy said foul play is now suspected in both deaths and the investigation is ongoing.
Find out what's happening in Tuscaloosafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Our investigators have been working close to 24 hours a day, along with the Sheriff's Office, in depth on this case," he said. "The other person found deceased, we learned that [Thomas] associated with him and may have been visiting him that night or something along those lines."
Kennedy went on to say that investigators were looking for Thomas as a potential witness to the other case and had been unable to locate him.
"At that time, we did not know if he was a witness, suspect or a victim," Kennedy said. "But he has now been located deceased, as well. It's also indicative of foul play."
Kennedy declined to comment on other specifics of the case or if any other suspects had been identified.
"With the facts that we have, working with the family, we believe this is probably related to some type of family or personal disputes," he said. "But we are still delving into all possibilities. At this time, we don't believe that there's any danger to the surrounding public."
This is a developing story. Tuscaloosa Patch will have more information as it becomes available.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
