An Alabama man accused of killing his elderly grandmother and aunt with a chainsaw was photographed smiling in his mugshot before making a disturbing statement during his first court appearance.
Thomas Steele, 47, is facing capital murder charges following the deaths of 65-year-old Christy DeLoach and 85-year-old Dora Boone, who were found inside their Mobile home on Monday, October 12.
But one of the most heartbreaking details emerged after investigators obtained a 911 call revealing that DeLoach had reached out for help over concerns about her nephew’s behavior just hours before the two women were found dead.
According to the Mobile Police Department, officers responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Carolina Court at approximately 1:36 p.m. after receiving a report of a possible death.
Inside, investigators discovered the bodies of both women.
Court documents allege Steele used a chainsaw to kill the two relatives, who were reportedly decapitated during the attack.
Officers detained Steele at the scene and transported him to Mobile County Metro Jail.
Authorities later confirmed that he lived at the home with his aunt and grandmother.
The circumstances surrounding the killings have stunned the community, particularly after Steele’s booking photograph showed him smiling broadly at the camera.
However, investigators have not established what the photograph reveals about his mental state or what motivated the killings.
As police continued examining the crime scene, another disturbing detail came to light.
Approximately two and a half hours before officers discovered the bodies, DeLoach had called 911 because she was worried about Steele.
According to a transcript obtained by FOX10 News, she explained that her nephew had stopped taking lithium, a medication commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder, and had begun behaving unusually.
She told the dispatcher that Steele had been giving away personal belongings, including his phone and car, and had expressed a desire to abandon technology and devote his life to God.
DeLoach was concerned enough to seek guidance but did not believe her nephew posed an immediate danger.
“He’s calm! He’s not violent or anything,” she told the dispatcher.
She also explained that she had contacted the 988 crisis line while trying to determine how best to help him.
During the call, the dispatcher asked whether DeLoach wanted emergency assistance.
She declined, saying she hoped the situation would resolve itself and that she primarily wanted advice about whom to contact.
The call ended without an emergency response being requested.
A short time later, police were dispatched to the home, where both women were found dead.
Investigators have not publicly established the precise sequence of events between the 911 call and the killings.
The revelation has raised difficult questions about whether additional intervention might have changed the outcome, although no official finding has established that the tragedy could have been prevented.
Steele’s behavior drew further attention during his initial court appearance on Tuesday, October 13.
According to reporters who attended the hearing, Mobile County District Judge Wesley Pipes asked Steele whether he had hired an attorney.
When Steele indicated that he had not, the judge appointed public defender Glenn Davidson to represent him.
But Steele reacted with a disturbing remark.
“Kill him,” he reportedly said after the attorney was identified.
The judge immediately ordered Steele removed from the courtroom.
The hearing continued without him, and bond was denied on the capital murder charges.
The courtroom incident prompted additional concerns about whether Steele is mentally competent to participate in his criminal proceedings.
Judge Pipes subsequently ordered an evaluation through the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood acknowledged that Steele’s behavior raised questions requiring examination by qualified medical professionals.
The evaluation will determine whether Steele currently understands the legal proceedings and can assist his attorney in preparing a defense.
If he is found incompetent, treatment may be ordered in an effort to restore his competency before the criminal case can proceed.
A separate evaluation could also examine his mental state at the time of the alleged killings.
The distinction is legally important because a defendant’s present competency to stand trial is different from whether a mental illness affected criminal responsibility when an alleged offense occurred.
A history of psychiatric treatment or missed medication does not automatically establish that a person was legally insane or unable to understand their actions.
Prosecutors have not announced a motive, and investigators have not concluded that Steele’s reported medication changes caused the violence.
The case carries potentially severe consequences.
Under Alabama law, capital murder can be punishable by life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, depending on the circumstances and outcome of the proceedings.
Steele remains in the Mobile County Metro Jail without bond as authorities continue their investigation.
Police are asking anyone with relevant information to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211.
For the family of Christy DeLoach and Dora Boone, the tragedy is compounded by the knowledge that one of the victims had sought help only hours before her death.
DeLoach’s final documented efforts were focused on finding assistance for a relative she was worried about.
Now, as prosecutors prepare their case and mental health professionals assess the accused man, investigators are working to determine what led to the deaths of two women inside the home they shared with him.
And the chilling 911 call has become one of the most troubling details in a double murder case that has left an Alabama community searching for answers.
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