A case that took more than 12 years to bring to a close ended with a guilty plea Monday.

Bruce Edward Day, a resident of the Nokomis community near Atmore at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to murder in the death of 25-year-old Woodrow Judge “Token” Allen, District Attorney Steve Billy said.

Allen was reported missing in December 2001 — just a month after Day was charged with reckless endangerment and attempted murder involving an incident between the victim and the suspect.

In 2009, after more than 48 hours of searching by law enforcement officers, Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith took Day was taken into custody at his father’s 5th Avenue home in Atmore without incident.

In 2009, Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Day at his place of employment when the suspect fled the scene. That attempt to elude officers lead authorities in two states on a manhunt that would lock down the University of West Florida Hewas sentenced to 20 years but under a split-sentence will serve three years in prison followed by seven years probation.

“We are satisfied with this plea and with the sentencing in this case,” Billy said. “I think this was a good plea for the state.”
Also Monday, Jonathon Brian Fleming was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday after he pleaded guilty to the 2010 murder of his mother, Angela Susan Fleming.

Billy said the guilty plea was a welcome end to the case.

“We are pleased with the sentencing in the case,” he said. “Both sides of the family seemed sympathetic and the plea is one I think everyone can be comfortable with.”

Billy said Fleming would be eligible for parole at sometime during the 20-year span of incarceration, although no time frame on when that would be possible was given.

Fleming stood accused of the December 2010 death of his mother

At the time of the incident, Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said the victim died of an apparent gunshot wound. The suspect initially confessed to the shooting of his mother, Lambert said.

“When we arrived at the home, Mrs. Fleming’s body had been wrapped in a rug from the living room and had been placed in the back of the suspect’s truck,” Lambert said. “When he came to the door we took him into custody without incident. He admitted to killing his mother at that time.”

The weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was found at the 805 McGowin Hill Road home near an outbuilding in the Damascus community. A car also located on the premises was filled with clothes believed to belong to the suspect.

Lambert said the victim and the suspect lived together at the home and there was no evidence anyone else was at the home at the time of the shooting.

Billy said he expected other cases will be brought to an end in the coming days as the two-week session of the criminal docket continues at the Escambia County Courthouse.