By By Adam Prestridge
Investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office believe Atmore’s Terry Riley used a knife to kill his friend, Larry Howard, in April and issued a warrant for his arrest last week.
Riley was taken into custody last Wednesday on a grand jury indictment and charged with Howard’s murder. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department and the Bay Minette Police Department assisted Escambia County deputies in arresting Riley, while he was working at Standard Furniture Company. The arrest was made at 10:40 a.m.
Howard, 51, was found stabbed to death in the doorway of a mobile home located at 612 Virginia Drive, Lot 1, which he shared with Riley, after leaving a party the night of April 19.
Howard’s body was discovered 10:10 p.m. According to an autopsy conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Howard died from a single stab wound to the heart.
Riley was taken into custody in Bay Minette without incident and is currently being held at the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton. According to Escambia County district attorney Steve Billy, Riley’s first court date will be Aug. 14. Billy said during that time, the judge will more than likely address Riley’s bond.
If convicted of murder, which is a Class-A felony, Riley faces 10 years to life in prison, according to Smith.