1983 Birmingham homicides

This is a List of Birmingham homicides in 1983. Media sources report 70 homicides in the city during the year. Note that not all homicides are ultimately ruled to be murder in courts of law.

Listing

1. February 27: Malcolm McRae, the proprieter of the Signature House art and antique gallery in the former Haskins Williams residence at 1312 20th Street South in Five Points South went missing in late February 1983, last seen in the parking lot outside his business. He was found on April 17 in a wooded area near the Cahaba River in Helena, dead from a shotgun blast to the face and neck. Gerald Wayne Lawley of 803 Grove Street Homewood was charged with murder in McRae's death on April 29, 1983. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 1984 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was granted parole after serving 8 years.
2. September 10: Gladys Burgess, 67, was found stabbed to death and mutilated on the floor of her 4th Court West apartment. Clarence Leland Simmons, already on death row for the murder of Murial Ausley in 1996, was identified as a suspect based on DNA evidence re-submitted in 2009. He died in prison in January 2013. (report)

References

• Troncale, Terri Callaway (July 29, 1983) "Lawley said he shot McRae by accident, detective testifies" The Birmingham News, via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections

See also

• List of homicides in 1983
• Birmingham homicides by year