Two arrested in Birmingham, charged with murder in Chilton County

Published 2:16 pm Thursday, February 9, 2012

Two Birmingham residents have been arrested in connection with an alleged murder just outside Clanton on Dec. 24, 2011.

Andray Laqurn Pope, 27, and Erica Renee Jones, 22, were arrested on Jan. 31 and charged with murder.

Both are being held in Chilton County Jail with no bond.

The body of Bobby Bolden, 43, of Birmingham was found inside a burning car on Christmas Eve of last year.

“Over the course of the past 39 days, this team has worked many long and hard hours investigating this case,” Sheriff Kevin Davis said in a release.

An autopsy indicated that Bolden died of a gunshot wound, and apparently was set on fire to cover up the crime.

But investigators were able to use footage from a nearby business’ security camera to identify the rental vehicle the suspects drove and trace it back to Birmingham.

Davis said the investigation determined that Bolden was an acquaintance of the two suspects, and officials believe he drove to Clanton before the incident took place.

“Evidence shows he was killed in Chilton County,” he said.

Investigators think the site in Chilton County was simply a meeting place—it was relatively close to Interstate 65 Exit 208—and the crime had no connections to the county other than being committed here.

“I feel we have a very good, strong case,” Davis said. “We think justice will be served.”