Derrick Hightower, 37, of Columbus, Georgia, has been in the Tallapoosa County Courthouse all week as a jury is hearing his trial for the alleged capital murders of a Dadeville couple.
Willie and Barbara Tidwell were found dead in their home on North Barrett Street on April 17, 2020, and ultimately Hightower was indicted for the charges in April 2021 along with co-defendent Kentrice Hill, 27, of Birmingham.
kAmkDA2?m%96 492C86D 282:?DE w:89E@H6C 2?5 w:== :?4=F56 EH@ 4@F?ED @7 42A:E2= >FC56C H9:=6 4@>>:EE:?8 2 C@336CJ[ 42A:E2= >FC56C H9:=6 4@>>:EE:?8 2 3FC8=2CJ[ 42A:E2= >FC56C 42FD:?8 E96 562E9D @7 EH@ @C >@C6 A6@A=6 2?5 D64@?5\568C66 E967E] x? E96 DE2E6 @7 p=232>2[ E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ :D 4@?D:56C65 :? 42A:E2= 42D6D] xE :D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ 92D 366? 4@?D:56C65 :? 2 42D6 :? s256G:==6 :? >@C6 E92? a_ J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mw:== :D 36:?8 EC:65 D6A2C2E6=J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96 %:5H6==D’ 562E9D H6C6 A2CE @7 2? 2==6865 4C:>6 DAC66 4@>>:EE65 3J E96 4@\5676?52?ED[ 2?5 E92E H2D E96 DE@CJ E92E 3682? E@ F?7@=5 2D E96 DE2E6’D 42D6 @? %9FCD52J 2?5 uC:52J 5FC:?8 E6DE:>@?J] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m!@H6C7F= E6DE:>@?J 3J q2C32C2 vC2?E DE2CE65 E96 DE2E6’D 42D6] !C:@C E@ vC2?E E2<:?8 E96 DE2?5[ E96 5676?D6 C6?6H65 :ED @3;64E:@? E@ E96 H:E?6DD 5F6 E@ H92E 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J #@3:? |4x?EJC6 2C8F65 H2D >@C6 AC6;F5:4:2= E92? AC@32E:G6] qFE 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J z:D92 p36C4C@>3:6[ H9@ :D E96 =625 AC@D64FE@C @? E96 42D6[ 2C8F65 E96C6 H2D 2 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? vC2?E’D E6DE:>@?J 2?5 E96 2==6865 >FC56CD @7 E96 %:5H6==D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?myF586 xD224 (92CE@? F=E:>2E6=J CF=65 :? 72G@C @7 2==@H:?8 vC2?E E@ E6DE:7J] p=E9@F89 G6CJ =:EE=6 H2D 5:D4FDD65 23@FE E96 %:5H6== >FC56CD 5FC:?8 (66< ` @7 E96 EC:2=[ E96 AC@D64FE:@? D66>65 E@ 36 D6EE:?8 E96 DE286 7@C E96 4C:>6 DAC66 E92E 2==6865=J E@@< A=246 =625:?8 FA E@ E96 %:5H6==D’ >FC56CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mvC2?E’D E6DE:>@?J :?4=F565 96C G6CD:@? @7 H92E 92AA6?65 E96 ?:89E @7 pAC:= `_[ a_a_ 2D D96 2==686D D96 H2D 42C;24<65 2?5 <:5?2AA65 7C@> 96C C6D:56?46 2E E96 qF586E6= :? r@=F>3FD[ v6@C8:2] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp44@C5:?8 E@ vC2?E[ D96 H2D :? 96C 42C =:DE6?:?8 E@ >FD:4 H96? 2 “E2==[ 52C< >2?” E2AA65 @? 96C H:?5@H 2?5 E@=5 96C E@ 86E @FE @7 E96 42C] $96 F=E:>2E6=J :56?E:7:65 E96 >2? 2D E96 5676?52?E[ w:89E@H6C] pE 7:CDE[ D96 5:5 ?@E =:DE6? 3FE D96 2==686D D96 D2H H92E D96 36=:6G65 H2D 2 8F?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x D66? D@>6E9:?8 A@:?E:?8 2E >6[ 2?5 x D2H E96 @C2?86 D:89E @? E96 6?5 @7 :E[” vC2?E E6DE:7:65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%9:D H2D E96 3:886DE DE:4<:?8 A@:?E :? 96C E6DE:>@?J 7@C E96 5676?D6 2D |4x?EJC6 BF6DE:@?65 vC2?E 962G:=J 23@FE E96 @C2?86 :E6> D96 D2H] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x D2H E96 6?5 @7 E96 8F?[” vC2?E D2:5 @? 4C@DD 6I2>:?2E:@?] “x 42?’E C642== 9@H =:EE=6 :E H2D] xE H2D 3:8 6?@F89 7@C >6 E@ D66 :E]” k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m|4x?EJC6 BF6DE:@?65 :7 E96 @C2?86 :E6> 925 2 D92A6[ E@ H9:49 vC2?E D2:5 D96 4@F=5?’E C642==[ 2?5 96 2D<65 :7 D96 6G6C D2H E9:D “=:EE=6 3:E @7 @C2?86 282:?[” E@ H9:49 D96 D2:5 ?@] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp7E6C D66:?8 H92E D96 E9@F89E H2D 2 8F?[ vC2?E E6DE:7:65 D96 ;F>A65 @G6C E96 46?E6C 4@?D@=6 :?E@ E96 A2DD6?86C’D D62E[ =6EE:?8 E96 >2? :?E@ E96 42C] uC@> E96C6[ D96 D2:5 E96 >2? 5C@G6 2C@F?5 2?5 H2D =@@<:?8 7@C 9:D 8:C=7C:6?5j vC2?E D2:5 D96 5:5?’E <?@H 6:E96C E96 >2? @C 9:D 8:C=7C:6?5] &=E:>2E6=J[ vC2?E E6DE:7:65 E96 EH@ 6?565 FA 2E |@E6= e H96C6 E96J 6?E6C65 2 9@E6= C@@> 2?5 7@F?5 EH@ H@>6?[ @?6 @7 H9@> D66>65 E@ 36 w:89E@H6C’D 8:C=7C:6?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?msFC:?8 vC2?E’D 5:C64E E6DE:>@?J[ E96 DE2E6 6?E6C65 D6G6C2= DFCG6:==2?46 G:56@ 4=:AD @7 6G:56?46 2E E96 r@=F>3FD[ v6@C8:2 |@E6= e H9:49 D66> E@ D9@H vC2?E[ w:89E@H6C 2?5 E96 8:C=7C:6?5 — =2E6C :56?E:7:65 2D w:== 5FC:?8 E96 E6DE:>@?J @7 !96?:I r:EJ !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E :?G6DE:82E@C y@D6 $:=G2[ H9@ D2:5 96 DA@<6 E@ w:== 2D 2 DFDA64E 2?5 D96 :56?E:7:65 96CD6=7 :? E96 G:56@D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp44@C5:?8 E@ vC2?E’D E6DE:>@?J[ E96 EH@ H6C6 2E |@E6= e 7@C 23@FE a_ >:?FE6D 367@C6 56A2CE:?8 H:E9 w:== :? E96 324<D62E] %96 E9C66 =67E :? vC2?E’D G69:4=6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mvC2?E D2:5 E96 E9C66 5C@G6 2C@F?5 367@C6 D96 H2D F=E:>2E6=J @C56C65 @FE @7 96C 42C ?62C w:89H2J cb` :? !96?:I r:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x DE2CE65 H2=<:?8 FA E96 C@25[ 2?5 x H2D 2 8@@5 H2JD 7C@> E96 42C[” vC2?E D2:5] “p== @7 2 DF556?[ E96 324< 5@@C @A6?65 2?5 E96 J@F?8 =25J 8@E @FE] $96 D2:5 D@>6E9:?8[ 2?5 x EFC?65 324< E@ D66 H92E 925 366? D2:5] x =@@<65 324< 2?5 E92E’D H96? x D2H E96 7:C6 7C@> E96 8F?]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mvC2?E H2D D9@E D6G6C2= E:>6D :? E96 8C@:? 2?5 3FEE@4<D 2C62[ 2?5 D96 2==686D :E H2D E96 H@>2? H9@ D9@E 96C] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m&=E:>2E6=J[ vC2?E DF776C65 7:G6 8F?D9@E H@F?5D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 96C E6DE:>@?J[ 2?5 D96 H2D =67E 7@C 5625]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x H2D @FE E96C6 2=@?6 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ 86E D@>6 96=A[” vC2?E E6DE:7:65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m$:=G2 =2E6C E6DE:7:65 2 4@FA=6 7@F?5 vC2?E 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 42==65 E96 A@=:46j D96 H2D E96? E2<6? E@ E96 9@DA:E2= H96C6 D96 H2D BF6DE:@?65 2?5 D96 DA6?E ;FDE @G6C 2 >@?E9 F?56C8@:?8 DFC86C:6D 2?5 C6923:=:E2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mpD @7 uC:52J >@C?:?8’D E6DE:>@?J[ E96C6 925 366? ?@ 492C8623=6 4@??64E:@? 36EH66? vC2?E’D 2==6865 <:5?2AA:?8 2?5 D9@@E:?8 2?5 E96 %:5H6==D’ >FC56CD — @E96C E92? $:=G2’D DE2E6>6?ED E92E w:== E@=5 9:> D96 H2D E96 H@>2? :? E96 DFCG6:==2?46 G:56@ 6?E6C65 :?E@ 6G:56?46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%96C6 H2D[ 9@H6G6C[ 2 4@??64E:@? >256 36EH66? E96 %:5H6==D’ >FC56CD 2?5 E96 >FC56C @7 }2?4J }2D9[ H9@ H2D 7@F?5 5625 :? E96 62C=J >@C?:?8 9@FCD @7 pAC:= `f[ a_a_ — E96 D2>6 52J 2D E96 %:5H6==D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m}2D9 H2D E96 @77:46C >2?286C 2E rC62E:G6 w23:E2ED[ 2 =2?5D42A:?8 3FD:?6DD @? w:89H2J ag_ :? pF3FC?] $96 @7E6? 2CC:G65 62C=J E@ H@C< 2?5 DFCG6:==2?46 G:56@ 6?E6C65 :?E@ 6G:56?46 3J E96 DE2E6 D9@H65 96C 2CC:G2= @?E@ E96 AC@A6CEJ 2C@F?5 bid_ 2]>] pAC:= `f] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp44@C5:?8 E@ E6DE:>@?J 7C@> rC62E:G6 w23:E2ED @H?6C r@C6J ~’$E66?[ :E H2D?’E F?FDF2= 7@C }2D9 E@ 36 E96C6 E92E 62C=J] w6 2=D@ D2:5 D96 EJA:42==J 42CC:65 2 ]bg_ >> 92?58F?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?msFC:?8 9:D E6DE:>@?J[ E96 DE2E6 C6G:6H65 D64FC:EJ 7@@E286 H:E9 ~’$E66?[ H9@ D2:5 E96 7@@E286 H2D :?:E:2==J DE@=6?] %96 G:56@ D9@HD EH@ A6@A=6 @? E96 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J <?@4<:?8 2E E96 @77:46 5@@C] %96 D@>6H92E 8C2:?J G:56@ =@@<D 2D :7 }2D9 :?G:E6D E96 A6@A=6 :?E@ E96 @77:46 367@C6 2 76H >@>6?ED @7 D:=6?46 2C6 7@==@H65 3J ?:?6 8F?D9@ED] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m~’$E66? E6DE:7:65 @? 4C@DD 6I2>:?2E:@? 96 E9@F89E 96 962C5 >F=E:A=6 42=:36C 8F?D9@ED @? E96 G:56@ 96 925 ;FDE @3D6CG65[ 2?5 :E “D@F?565 =:<6 x 962C5 2 D>2== 42=:36C 7:CDE]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m“x H2D ?@E E96C6 D@ x 42??@E E6== 6I24E=J H92E 92AA6?65 :? E96 8F?7:C6 E92E 6?DF65[” ~’$E66? E6DE:7:65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 4@??64E:@? >256 36EH66? }2D9’D >FC56C 2?5 E96 %:5H6==D 925 E@ 5@ H:E9 H96C6 96C G69:4=6 H2D =@42E65] p44@C5:?8 E@ E6DE:>@?J 3J y@D9 |:I@?[ H9@ :D 4FCC6?E=J H@C<:?8 7@C E96 uqx 3FE H2D 2 56E64E:G6 7@C pF3FC? !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E 2E E96 E:>6[ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD C646:G65 2 E:A }2D9’D G69:4=6 H2D =@42E65 :? q:C>:?892> 2?5 E96 q:C>:?892> !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E 925 2 DFDA64E :? 4FDE@5J] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m|:I@? E6DE:7:65 E96 G69:4=6 H2D 7@F?5 2E E96 &$p t4@?@ {@586 2?5 D6G6C2= @77:46CD H6?E E@ 4@?5F4E 2 D62C49[ 5FC:?8 H9:49 EH@ 5F>ADE6CD H6C6 D62C4965 2E E96 C62C @7 E96 9@E6=] x? E9@D6 5F>ADE6CD[ >F=E:A=6 :E6>D H6C6 C64@G6C65[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 5C:G6C’D =:46?D6 @7 q2C32C2 %:5H6== 2?5 AC6D4C:AE:@? 3@EE=6D 7@C 3@E9 (:==:6 2?5 q2C32C2 %:5H6==] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mr@FCE H:== 36 324< :? D6DD:@? |@?52J >@C?:?8 2D E96 DE2E6’D 42D6 H:== 4@?E:?F6]k^DA2?mk^Am