CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County District Attorney Wilson Blaylock announced in a press release on Thursday that Andrew Jacob Maresh was found guilty after a three-day jury trial in the Cullman County Circuit Court for the murder of Daniel Ray Osborn, II.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Daniel Ray Osborn, II. We are grateful that the jury was able to see through the many lies of Maresh in returning their verdict of guilty for intentional murder,” said District Attorney Blaylock. “Our office will request Judge Martha Williams to impose the maximum punishment of life against Maresh at his sentencing hearing, which will occur at a later date. The trial and guilty verdict of Maresh is only the end of just one chapter in this sad story. We will be here for Osborn’s family until the trials of the two other co-defendants are completed. Justice was served today, and we will continue to seek justice on behalf of Osborn’s family.”
In February 2018, the victim, Daniel Ray Osborn, II, was with Andrew Maresh and Tyler Hudson at the residence of Susan Smith, Maresh’s grandmother, in the Fairview community. Osborn was shot in the back of the head and killed. The defendants proceeded to leave, and eventually, buried his body on the property, then staged a cover-up to prevent anyone from knowing that they had killed Osborn. Shortly after his disappearance, the family of Osborn filed a missing persons report with the Hartselle Police Department. This week the jury heard testimony that the defendants continued to use Osborn’s cellphone to mislead his family, friends and law enforcement into believing that Osborn was still alive. Approximately seven weeks later, acting on a tip, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office went to the property and recovered Osborn’s body, as well as obtained evidence leading to the indictments issued against Maresh, Hudson and Smith.
Due to the Defendant’s having conflicting defenses, Alabama law requires that the case be tried separately. The cases against Hudson and Smith remain pending and will be scheduled for a trial at a later date.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeff Roberts and Debra Ball, Pre-Trial Coordinator, of the District Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by the Hartselle Police Department and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.
**As for the pending cases against Hudson and Smith, the law requires prosecutors to make the following disclosure: Any indication of an indictment does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons indicted are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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