Police probe murder, suicide

RED BAY — Police continue to investigate an apparent murdersuicide which took place Thursday inside an apartment within the Red Bay Housing Authority on Eugina Nixon Circle.

Police Chief Janna Jackson said members of her department were notified by a family member around 6:39 p.m. Thursday.

“The family member told us that they had not had recent contact with any of the family members, so they went to the apartment. Once that person gained entry into the apartment, they saw blood and immediately contacted us,” Jackson said.

Police found two bodies in one bedroom and another in a second bedroom.

Jackson said the mother, Teresa Sappington, 59, and daughter, Leah Moody, 28, were found in a bedroom.

“One person was found on the floor, while the other was found in a chair,” Jackson said.

The 23-year-old daughter, who Jackson said had been going through a transition and had officially changed her name to Derek Gray Moody, was found on the floor in another bedroom dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

All three people seemed to have been dead “possibly several hours,” Jackson said.

A bat and a shotgun, which were believed to be the weapons used, were taken into evidence, Jackson said.

“We were told by family members that Derek had some previous anger outbursts,” Jackson said.

The three bodies were transported to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for autopsies.

Jackson, who has been with the Red Bay Police Department for 29 years, said she could not remember a situation like this in the city.

Members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, along with members of the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office, assisted Red Bay police with securing and investigating the scene.