by Bennett Rolan/Times-Georgian
10.16.09 - 10:21 pm
After forcing entry into his mother-in-law’s Bowdon home Friday, Duane Clough allegedly assaulted his mother-in-law and his wife, and killed a man who was in the residence.
Clough, 43, of Graham, Ala., and his wife, Michelle Clough, 33, had reportedly separated several months ago after 15 years of marriage.
The male victim, Christopher Watkins, 34, of Buchanan, was believed to have been Michelle Clough’s boyfriend.
Police responded to a 911 call for help around 6:50 a.m. from Michelle Clough’s mother, Mary Thomas, 62, after Duane Clough kicked in the door of her home and severely beat her.
Thomas was able to make the emergency phone call while Duane Clough had moved on to attack the others in the home, according to police reports. However, the call was cut short when Duane Clough attacked Thomas again, this time with a knife.
“There were no weapons seen when he entered the residence. He apparently used weapons of opportunity,” Sheriff’s Office Capt. Shane Taylor said.
Though investigators said they could not divulge details about the case, Taylor did confirm that one of the primary weapons used was a kitchen knife.
After Duane Clough had already killed Watkins, assaulted Michelle Clough and assaulted Thomas a second time, Thomas reportedly pretended to be unconscious or dead until her son-in-law left her home, according to Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley.
“It appears that he assaulted each of the victims with the intent to cause serious harm or death,” Taylor said. “It doesn’t seem that he showed hardly any restraint.”
With Duane Clough gone, Thomas placed another emergency call and Bowdon police Sgt. Randall Smith was the first to arrive on the scene even though the Fletcher Road address was outside of Bowdon’s jurisdiction.
“I was given the call about a heated domestic dispute, but when I got there I discovered all of the other details. The mother appeared to be in shock but she was still conscious,” Smith said. “I’ve been doing this a while and every time you see something like this, it just doesn’t get any easier.”
Duane Clough fled to a family member’s home in the Bowdon area and soon after his arrival one of the residents called police and notified them of his whereabouts.
When Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they reported that the suspect was cooperative, did not resist arrest and confirmed that he was involved in the incident.
Though Duane Clough’s criminal history is not yet known, according to a Randolph County incident report, he had attempted suicide between one and two months ago. During the attempted suicide, he shot himself and was airlifted to Columbus, Ala., where he received medical treatment, the report said.
While he was in the hospital, Michelle Clough moved back into their Graham, Ala. home. Duane Clough then returned to the house after being released from the hospital less than two weeks ago.
Michelle Clough reportedly left the Alabama residence to stay with her mother in Bowdon two days ago, according to Taylor.
Duane Clough was charged with murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery and burglary.
Both Michelle Clough and Thomas were taken to Tanner Medical Center and Thomas has since been transported to Atlanta.
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