Girlfriend stabbed at least 150 times
By Andy Powell
Times Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 9:23 p.m.
A DeKalb County man pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering his girlfriend and was given a life sentence without parole by DeKalb County Circuit Judge Randall Cole.
John Mark Cullom Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to the Aug. 10, 2009, murder of his girlfriend, Kristi Renee Wolf, who was stabbed at least 150 times, according to a press release from DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris.
DeKalb County District Attorney Mike O’Dell said Cullom, who lives in DeKalb County but had an Albertville address, originally was charged with murder and his case was to be presented to a grand jury this week.
O’Dell said he had planned to seek an indictment for capital murder because kidnapping was involved and because of the violence and brutality of the crime.
However, Cullom agreed to plead guilty to murder and accept a sentence of life without parole rather than face the possible capital murder charge.
O’Dell agreed to the plea arrangement after getting the approval of the victim’s family.
He said he would not have made the agreement without that approval.
“This was a good resolution to this case,” O’Dell said, “I think it was in the best interest of both the defendant and the victim’s family.”
Cullom was taken into custody at the residence on DeKalb County Road 964 in the Kilpatrick community where the stabbing took place. Officers found Wolf’s body when they entered the residence.
Cullom told investigators he and Wolf had dated for some time and had had an argument earlier in the evening.
According to the press release from Harris, an autopsy by the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Huntsville said Wolf had stab wounds on all parts of her body. There were about 150 wounds including several “defensive wounds” on her hands and arms.
Investigators determined that Wolf was beaten about the back and head at least seven times with a metal pipe before her death, Harris said, in an attack in the Douglas area of Marshall County.
Cullom then brought Wolf to DeKalb County in the trunk of his car.
At the residence in DeKalb County, Wolf told friends of the beating, which upset Cullom and he attacked Wolf with a large kitchen knife.
Cullom’s mother tried to stop the attack, but left to get help after she was threatened. Neighbors called 911.
Cullom later told an officer he had “just killed his girlfriend,” Harris said.
He later was determined to be competent to stand trial by state mental health officials.
Cullom remains in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting transfer to a state prison.
Cole said he appreciated the cooperation of Marshall County investigators and Marshall District Attorney Steve Marshall in the case.
Cullom has been charged in Marshall County with attempted murder. O’Dell said he did not know what Marshall County officials will do with that case.
Copyright © 2010 GadsdenTimes.com — All rights reserved. Restricted use only.
No comments:
Post a Comment