MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Friday announced the indictments of Joshua Franklin Hill, 33, of Walker County and Cyerena Cheyenne Styles, 28, of Walker County for the 2015 death of Eric Cates. Cates and his dog Gypsy were found deceased in the Empire community on March 21, 2015. Hill and Styles were each indicted on one count of murder. The indictments were served, and defendants arrested on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Styles was arrested by the Sumiton Police Department and Hill was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force.
On Oct. 5, 2023, Marshall’s Special Prosecution and Criminal Trials Divisions, in partnership with the Sumiton Police Department and former agents of Walker County Sheriff’s Office, presented evidence to a Walker County grand jury which resulted in Hill’s indictment on one count of murder and Styles’ indictment on one count of murder. The Attorney General’s Office investigated the case at the request of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
If convicted of murder, a Class A felony, both Hill and Styles will face a range of punishment from not less than 10 years to not more than 99 years or life imprisonment.
Due to the possibility of additional suspects, no other information about the investigation or the defendant’s alleged crimes can be released at this time.
Eric Cates was 32 on March 21, 2015, when he and his dog Gypsy were found dead inside Cates’ burned pickup truck behind the old Empire School in Walker County.
Cates’ mother Tobbie Stover posted to Facebook Friday, Oct. 13, 2023:
“We are very emotional at this time but wanted to share this great information about two arrests of some involved in Eric and Gypsys murders. I cannot thank those of you who have supported us over the past 8 1/2 years as we have fought for Justice enough. Your prayers and encouragement has been warmly welcomed.
“I want to express our appreciation to the Alabama State Attorney General Steve Marshall, his Investigators, legal team and staff that has made theses arrests possible, along with the Sumiton Chief of Police TJ Burnett and the Sumiton Police Department.
“Had it not been for Secrets True Crime, Echo 7Foxtrot and Chief TJ Burnett , I doubt seriously if we would be reading about the arrests today. Again, Thank everyone for a job well done. We will release more info and keep the AGs updates coming as we get them. Keep praying, there is more work to be done in this case.”
