(Updated) Cullman woman 2nd person charged with manslaughter in Good Hope case 

Updated March 26, 2025, at 5:22 p.m.

GOOD HOPE, Ala. – A Cullman County woman is now facing a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a man in Good Hope last month.

Kinsey Nikole Burns, 21, of Cullman, was arrested March 20, on charges of manslaughter – fentanyl and corpse abuse.  She is the second person to be charged in connection with the death of Anthony Mark Sturgeon, 29, of Cullman.

Court documents allege: 

MANSLAUGHTER – FENTANYL: KINSEY NIKOLE BURNS did, on or about February 7, 2025, knowingly sell, furnish, give away, deliver or distribute a controlled substance in violation of 13A-12-211, which contained fentanyl, any mixture containing fentanyl, or any synthetic controlled substance fentanyl, or any synthetic controlled substance fentanyl analogue described in Sections 20-2-23 and 20-2-25, and the person to whom the controlled substance was sold, furnished, given, delivered or distributed died as a proximate result of the use of the controlled substance, to-wit: PROVIDED FENTANYL TO ANTHONY MARK STURGEON WHICH CAUSED HIS DEATH, in violation of 13A-6-3(3) of the Code of Alabama (1975). 

CORPSE ABUSE: KINSEY NIKOLE BURNS did, on or about February 7, 2025, knowingly treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities, to-wit: BY DUMPING THE BODY OF ANTHONY MARK STURGEON AT GOOD HOPE CITY PARK, in violation of 13A-11-13 of the Code of Alabama (1975). 

Sturgeon’s body was found at a Good Hope park on Saturday, Feb. 8.

On March 19, Gregory Wayne Aycock, 55, of Cullman, was arrested. He is charged with manslaughter – fentanyl, first-degree hindering prosecution and corpse abuse.

Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry told The Tribune in February, “Preliminary indications are believed to be a drug overdose. It is believed that Aycock moved the body in question.”

Burns is currently being held at the Cullman County Detention Center without bond, as is Aycock.