Man accused of killing mother taken into custody

A Russellville man accused of killing his mother was taken into custody Sunday morning, officials said.

James Chris Spencer, 46, of 704 Green Ave., Russellville, was formally arrested for murder and taken into custody Sunday at 11 a.m., Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.

Hargett said an arrest warrant for the charge of murder was issued for Spencer on Friday afternoon but he was unable to be taken into custody at that time since he was being treated at Helen Keller Hospital for an apparent drug overdose.

Hargett said Spencer remained in a guarded condition until he was released from hospital care at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Police Lt. Scotty Lowery said Spencer was immediately transported to the Franklin County Jail to await a bond hearing Monday afternoon.

Spencer is accused of killing his mother, 65 year-old Rosalyn R. (Jo) Spencer, whose body was discovered Thursday night inside the Green Avenue residence.

“A neighbor called and said she was worried about her because she hadn’t talked with her in three or four days,” Hargett said.

He said the neighbor said they talked every day and no one had talked with her since Sunday.

“Our officers made entry and we found her body on the bedroom floor and there was evidence of a struggle,” Hargett said.

“She had wounds on her body, but we are unsure at this time what actually caused her death.”

He said the body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy and they will know more information once they receive forensic results.

Hargett did say the victim appeared to have been deceased for 2-3 days.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is assisting police with the investigation.