SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man who called 911 claiming he found his father lifeless on the floor was convicted of beating the man to death more than four years ago.
Byron Keith Shirey, 61, was convicted of murder Wednesday in the death of Charles Shirey, 78, WHNT-TV reported. A judge ordered him to remain in custody until a sentencing hearing set for Jan. 6, court records show.
Shirey called authorities in May 2017 claiming he drove to his father’s home in Jackson County out of concern and found the man dead. With no immediate evidence of a crime, investigators allowed Shirey to leave.
But Shirey was arrested in September 2019 and accused of beating his father to death. Investigators said Shirey was in debt and asked his father for help, but the man refused. The day of the killing, Shirey transferred $50,000 from his father’s bank account into his own, authorities alleged.
Jurors deliberated two days before returning a guilty verdict.