CULLMAN, Ala. – A Cullman County jury on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, convicted Nathan Winston Stephens of murder for the Sept. 12, 2020, murder of Herndon Self Jr.
The two-day trial began Monday with Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker and Assistant District Attorney Tina Burgett prosecuting the case for the State.
“I would first like to thank the jury for their service, the Cullman Police Department who did a great job on this case during the investigation and the other law enforcement agencies who helped capture Mr. Stephens when he fled from law enforcement. I also want to thank our victim’s family, the Self family, who we have been in contact with about this case since I took office and who courageously sat in court these past two days,” Crocker said in a media release.
“We are working to clear the case backlog by obtaining three murder convictions since taking office in January, one of which happened in 2018. This murder happened in 2020. When I ran for district attorney I said my office would prosecute crimes by career criminals that have been delayed in recent years. We are doing what we promised to do, and it’s an honor seek justice for the people of Cullman County,” said Crocker.
Following the jury’s verdict, Circuit Judge Gregory Nicholas remanded Stephens into custody pending sentencing at a later date.
In an earlier case, Stephens was denied parole by the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) on Aug. 11, 2020 but was subsequently released Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, two days prior to murdering Self, under a 2015 law requiring mandatory release of certain convicted felons, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC).
Read more about the case at www.cullmantribune.com/tag/nathan-winston-stephens.
