Fort Payne Unsolved Murders
Fort Payne Police Commissioner Ron Ogltree said there are two unsolved crimes connected with the city that he would like to see closed, both involving elderly women.
The anniversary of one of those crimes – the rape of an elderly woman Christmas 2007 – recently passed and the anniversary of the other – the murder of an elderly woman, whose body was found in the trunk of a car at DeKalb Regional Medical Center in 2007, is coming up next month.
Ogle tree said investigators with his department are still actively looking into both crimes.
In regard to the rape case, police reports show an unidentified elderly woman was robbed and raped at knifepoint on Christmas 2007. The incident happened around 9 p.m. at the woman’s home on Green Ave. NW. There was no forced entry. Investigators said the victim, who was home alone, reported a man tied her up and raped her. She was able to call police after the offender left. No arrests have been made.
According to reports, $50 and $150 in Christmas presents were stolen. The presents were later found in the yard.
Gov. Bob Riley has posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Ogletree said investigators also continue to look into the 2007 murder of 70-year-old Shirley Sumrall, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a car left in the parking lot of DRMC.
He said it’s believed that Sumrall was actually killed in Marshall County, where she lived.
The home Sumrall shared with her husband, Frasier, is near Lake Guntersville State Park. On June 14, 2007, Fort Payne Police Department investigators, Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies and state forensic technicians descended on the house on Eagle Point Road. Marshall County Sheriff Scott Walls said Sumrall’s widower gave law enforcement permission to search the property.
“The case has not been closed,” Ogletree said. “And we still have an investigator who is actively working on this case – if we get a tip or a lead, we will follow up on it and we are still seeking information. We do have some suspicions, but we are not yet prepared to release them publicly.”
Ogletree said he encourages anyone with any information about either crime to call the Fort Payne Police Department.
