Michael Townsel Jr., left; Delia Downs, center; and Christopher CagleThe Alabama trio arrested in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man and charged last week with kidnapping now faces more charges in Marshall County.
In addition to kidnapping charges, Albertville, Ala., resident Christopher Todd Cagle, 28, and Michael Stanley Townsel Jr., 28, of Fort Payne, each now are charged with murder in the slaying of Gary Lee Willis. Delia May Downs, 33, of Albertville, Ala., now is charged with hindering prosecution in addition to the kidnapping charge against her, according to Marshall County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Heath Thomas.
All three are being held at the Marshall County Jail on $1 million bonds.
Willis was shot multiple times with a small-caliber handgun on Baker Road east of Boaz, Thomas said Friday. The lieutenant said he couldn’t elaborate on how Willis’ vehicle got to Geraldine in DeKalb County, where it was found burning on County Road 135 on Dec. 17. Willis’ body was discovered inside after firefighters extinguished the flames.
“Those facts are still being gathered,” he said. Investigators believe nothing other than the car was taken from Willis, he said.