YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Investigating Officer(s): Det. S. Murphy. Det. T. Armstrong
Incident No.: 001187-05C-2023
Case Description: Ambrose Garrett death investigation

Based on witness statements during interviews, investigators put together the following summary of the witness alibis for the afternoon and night of Sunday, March 5, 2023, when Ambrose Garrett died.

An alibi is designated partially or tentatively substantiated when:

  • The witness's alibi is corroborated only by another witness who has a close personal relationship with him/her.
  • One or more portions of the witness's time remain uncorroborated.
  • The corroboration for all or part of the alibi is not conclusive.

Arbuckle

Name: Julie ArbuckleSmiling blonde woman with glasses

Description: HOA Past President; found the body

Alibi: Arrived at the HOA meeting before 5:00 p.m. and was one of the last to leave. Received a call from Delilah around 9:30 p.m. to check on Ambrose. Found the body and called 911 at 9:52 p.m.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Delilah confirmed her call. Mary Wallace and David McMahan confirmed early arrival and late departure from the meeting. The exact arrival time and whereabouts between departure and Delilah's call could not be confirmed.

Bower

Name: Shannon BowerSmiling woman with dark hair in a ponytail

Description: Whitehall resident; disagreed with the victim's HOA policies

Alibi: Arrived at the HOA meeting on time and first said she left at the end. Later admitted she left early, stopped by Bryan Mortimer's house, and arrived home at 7:30 p.m., where she stayed the rest of the night.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed her presence at the meeting. Mary Wallace confirmed early departure. Bryan confirmed she was at his house. Marti Scarr confirmed her arrival at home and presence there that night.

Covington

Name: Jamie CovingtonMan with short dark hair

Description: Whitehall resident

Alibi: Hosting a party at his house. Left a couple of times to get supplies and stop by the HOA meeting. Left the meeting when it ended around 7:00 p.m.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed his presence at the meeting, arriving around 5:20 p.m. and leaving around 7:00 p.m. His whereabouts after that time could not be confirmed.

Edwards

Name: Warren EdwardsMan with dark hair and facial hair, looking over the top of his glasses

Description: Victim's next-door neighbor

Alibi: Arrived early for the HOA meeting and left when it ended at 7:00 p.m. Later admitted returning for a private conversation with Ambrose, which lasted 10–15 minutes.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Mary Wallace and David McMahan confirmed early arrival. His post-meeting conversation with Ambrose and Ambrose's condition when Warren left could not be confirmed.

Garrett

Name: Delilah GarrettSmiling woman with short red hair

Description: Victim's wife

Alibi: At work at the hospital from about 3:00 p.m. until detectives arrived to notify her of her husband's death.

Verified? Yes

Verification: Multiple hospital employees confirmed her presence there, and no one noticed her leaving the hospital grounds.

Hawkins

Name: Chester HawkinsOlder man with reddish-brown receding hair and a salt-and-pepper mustache

Description: Apprehended at the scene

Alibi: Found outside the community center after the body was discovered. Confessed to murder but could not identify the victim.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Community center neighbor Charles Muldoon saw Chester wandering in the area, but no witnesses reported seeing Chester inside the community center that day.

McMahan

Name: David McMahanSmiling man with short dark hair and wearing a suit and tie

Description: HOA Treasurer

Alibi: Arrived just before 5:00 p.m. for the HOA meeting and left after it ended around 7:20 p.m.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed the meeting started shortly after he arrived. Mary Wallace confirmed she and David left the community center together around 7:20 p.m.

Tyler

Name: Patrick TylerSmiling man with dark hair

Description: Whitehall resident; Delilah Garrett's college friend

Alibi: Arrived early for the HOA meeting and left when it ended at 7:00 p.m. He then went to Jamie Covington's party until about 9:00 p.m., when he went home and to bed.

Verified? Partially

Verification: David McMahan confirmed Patrick was at the meeting when David arrived. Patrick's post-meeting activities could not be confirmed.

Wallace

Name: Mary WallaceSmiling woman with long reddish hair

Description: HOA Secretary

Alibi: Was one of the first to arrive before the HOA meeting and left after it ended around 7:20 p.m.

Verified? Partially

Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed Mary was at the community center when they arrived. David McMahan confirmed he and Mary left the community center together around 7:20 p.m., and he saw her walk to her home. Her whereabouts after that time could not be confirmed.

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