2020 recap: 22 homicides reported in Tuscaloosa County
Authorities in Tuscaloosa County investigated 22 homicides during 2020, the highest number in more than a decade.
Last year’s total was one more homicide than the 21 investigated in 2019 and matched the 22 homicides recorded in 2008.
While there may not be much change between the overall totals, the homicide classifications are where the differences between 2020 and 2019 are seen.
More capital murder cases were reported in 2019 whereas more non-capital murder cases were reported in 2020. There was also one additional justified homicide case reported in 2019, which is a homicide that was determined justified and no charges were brought.
2020: 22 total homicides
UpdatedWed, Dec 30, 2020 at 3:16 pm CT
Reply
TPD Captain Marty Sellers addresses the media on Wednesday to announce elevated charges in the case. (Ryan Phillips, Tuscaloosa Patch)
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - An initial charge of first degree assault has been upgraded to murder for a woman currently in custody after a six month old girl she was caring died Wednesday morning. The child was first found unresponsive Monday afternoon at a residence in the 3000 block of 35th Avenue, which prompted the investigation.
Investigators with the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit charged Tiffany Washington, 30, with aggravated child abuse and first degree assault after the initial call on Monday when the woman told deputies that she found the child unresponsive and began to perform CPR.
6-month-old killed in Tuscaloosa County; caretaker charged with murder
Updated Dec 30, 2020;
The caretaker of a Tuscaloosa County child is behind bars after the 6-month-old was found unresponsive earlier this week and now has died.
Authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of 30-year-old Tiffany Washington. Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Marty Sellers said deputies were dispatched at 2:30 p.m. Monday to the 3000 block of 35th Avenue on a report of an unresponsive child - Jordynn Taylor.
Washington, who is not the baby’s mother, told authorities she found the child unresponsive and began CPR. The child was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham where she died.
Woman Charged With Assault of 6-Month-Old Found Unresponsive
A Tuscaloosa woman has been charged with the assault and abuse of a 6-month-old baby found unresponsive Monday afternoon, police said early Wednesday morning.
Marty Sellers, the co-commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said sheriff s deputies were called to the 3000 block of 35th Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Monday, where a six-month-old child had been reported to be unconscious.
Sellers said 30-year-old Tiffany Washington, who was the child s caretaker at the time, told police she found the infant unresponsive and called police and tried to administer CPR.
After reviewing evidence, though, investigators believe Washington was responsible for the child s condition. She was arrested late Tuesday night with first-degree assault and aggravated child abuse.