Ryan Evans
Ryan J. Evans (born 1987 – died June 13, 2006 in Birmingham) was an accomplice in the murder of Walter Hill and was later murdered, along with his grandparents, by his former partner-in-crime, Derrol Shaw.
Evans, raised by his mother, Tammy Duff, dropped out of the 11th grade at Minor High School. At his mother's insistence he joined the Job Corps in August 2005, working in Kentucky, but became ill and was hospitalized. He returned to Kentucky in January 2006, but left a few months later to return to Birmingham. He was given a basement room with an outside patio door at his grandparents' home on 10th Court Way in College Hills.
Evans began dating Sharnice Covington, whom he had met at his grandparents' church in Titusville. On June 9 he accompanied Derrol Shaw in the robbery and murder of Walter Hill. His bragging about the murder brought Shaw to Evans' door on the evening of June 13. Shaw proceeded to kill Evans and his grandparents, John and Evelyn Martin, and to dispose of their bodies in an overgrown ravine off Borah Road south of Reader's Gap in Muscoda.
Initially reported missing, police found blood traces in the Martins' home which made them suspect foul play. Rewards totalling $130,000 were offered by Tuscaloosa businessman Stan Pate, Barber's Dairy, the State of Alabama, and others for the family's safe return, or for information leading to the arrests of suspects in connection with their disappearance. Their bodies were discovered that December.
Already serving time for a string of carjackings and an attempted murder, Shaw pleaded guilty to killing Hill, Evans and the Martins in January 2008. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
References
- Robinson, Carol. (September 5, 2006). "'It's not old news. Not to us.'" Birmingham News
- Gordon, Robert K. and Carol Robinson. (December 15, 2006). "Bodies of missing Martin family believed found." Birmingham News
- Velasco, Eric. (September 18, 2007). "Prosecutors: Shaw killed to cover crimes." Birmingham News
- Velasco, Eric (January 20, 2008) "Couple takes in grandson, but move opens door for a killer ." Birmingham News