List of homicides in 1980

This is a List of homicides in 1980. It includes homicide cases occuring throughout the Birmingham area during the calendar year. Note that not all homicides are ultimately ruled to be murder in courts of law.

Jefferson County

Bessemer

• February 3: Charlie King Jr died at Bessemer Carraway Medical Center from gunshot wounds suffered at 1827 17th Street Bessemer during a dispute with a neighbor over the theft of frozen catfish and raccoon meat. (report)

Birmingham

Birmingham had 88 homicides in 1980. (list)

Gardendale

• May 21: Barbara "Bobbie" Harris Kelly, 40, was found shot to death at her home at 813 Mt Olive Road. Her husband, Clinton J. "Joe" Kelly, was arrested as a suspect. (report)

Hoover

• March 25: The remains of Barbara Lois Smith, 24, last seen at a friend's home Center Point on February 3, were found at a dump site on Sulphur Springs Road near Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park. She was found with several stab wounds to the chest. (report)

Hueytown

• May 9: George Gerald Smith Jr was shot to death and his wife critically wounded at their home. His son, George Gerald Smith III, was arrested and charged with 1st degree murder. (report)

Trafford

• April 8: Ernest Eugene Speakman, 40, was one of three family members shot to death at their home. Thomas Earl Hand was arrested and charged with their murders. (report)
• April 8: Eloise Speakman, 36, Ernest's wife, was killed in the same incident.
• April 8: Cleve Speakman, 71, Ernest's father, was killed in the same incident.

Unincorporated Jefferson County

• May 17: Rodger Daryl Scott, 17, a football player at Banks High School, died at East End Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered while he and another male were attempting to rob the Chalkville Food Store. The store's manager, Steve Hill, fired at him while he was holding a customer at gunpoint. (report)

Shelby County

• June 27: Gale Heatherly, 32, was found dead outside her home near the intersection of Shelby County Road 32 and Pelham Heights Road in Pelham. Evidence showed she had been raped and beaten to death. Corbit Glen Stallings was convicted of murder. (report)

St Clair County

• February 29: Paul L. Lee, 56, was found shot to death at the Busy Bee Mart convenience store where he worked off of I-59 Exit 148 near Argo. No arrest. (report)

Walker County

• February 26: Connelia Ann Eddy, 18, was found shot to death at the Handy Dandy No. 7 convenience store in Jasper where she worked. No arrest. (report)

References

• Birmingham News reports accessed at the microfilm room of the Birmingham Public Library