CULLMAN, Ala. – A Cullman County jury on Friday, June 28, found William Thomas Maddux, 33, of Cullman County, guilty of murder in the Nov. 12, 2017, shooting death of his stepfather, Perry Shoemake.
Following a four-day trial, Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker said he would like to thank the jury for their service and the Cullman Police Department, which he said did a great job on the case, from the first officer on scene to the investigators.
“Our law enforcement was under constant attack in this trial, but their professionalism prevailed,” Crocker said. “It was an honor to work with Mr. Shoemake’s family to achieve justice. I didn’t know Perry Shoemake, but I will never forget him.”
Shoemake, 56, of Cullman, was pronounced dead at the scene of 2017’s deadly incident, which occurred at 1829 Cottonwood Dr. SE in the Carrol Acres subdivision in Cullman.
A day later, Police Chief (then Lead Investigator) David Nassetta told The Tribune, “What we believe is that the suspect, who is also the stepson of the man who is deceased, attempted to come into the house. He was not let in. The suspect ended up coming back and breaking in the back door of the house. He came in and there was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect then attempted to commit suicide. He suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”
Walker County Circuit Court Judge Greg Williams presided over the trial. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m.
Maddux will be held in the Cullman County Detention Center until then.
“We will continue working to clear the backlog by trying these cases,” Crocker said. “This was the fifth murder verdict we have obtained since taking office last year. We are doing what we promised to do, and it’s an honor to seek justice for the people of Cullman County.”
