Murder suspect makes bond, released from jail

A local man accused of killing his girlfriend has been released from the Franklin County Jail after he posted his $400,000 bond set Wednesday morning.

Jason Dewayne Green, 35, 325 Oak Hills Drive, Russellville, was charged with the murder of 27-year-old Shay Nicole Ledlow on Tuesday afternoon based on preliminary autopsy reports and other factors, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.

According to authorities, officers at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department received a call at 10 p.m. Sunday from Green stating Ledlow had committed suicide.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered Ledlow had suffered a gunshot wound to her head, officials said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene by Franklin County Coroner Elzie Malone.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, Green was arrested at the scene for second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and held for investigative purposes until he was officially charged with murder Tuesday.

At a bond hearing Wednesday morning, Franklin County District Judge Paula McDowell set Green’s bond at $400,000 with the conditions that, if Green posted bond, he would have no contact with the victim’s family and would not be able to possess firearms.

Green posted the bond a little after 2 p.m.

“A $400,000 bond is a normal amount that has been used in previous murder cases,” Rushing said. “Green’s family or friends must have known the amount would be high and they were obviously prepared to post his bond.”

Officers with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the case, which is still ongoing.