Mobile man faces capital murder charges after killing two relatives
Investigators say warning signs were ignored before Thomas Steele allegedly killed his aunt and grandmother.
By Megan Greco ·
Thomas Steele, 47, is charged with two counts of capital murder for the deaths of his aunt and grandmother. Prosecutors say he used a chainsaw to kill Christy DeLoach and Dora Boone inside their home on Carolina Court in Mobile, Alabama, on Oct. 12.
A 911 transcript obtained by FOX10 News provides details on the events leading up to the killings. One of the victims called dispatchers to report that her nephew had stopped taking his lithium medication. She stated that Steele had given away his phone and car and was acting strangely. The caller noted that he had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and was saying, “It’s in his mind. He’s following God.”
When the dispatcher asked if Steele was being harmful, the caller said, “I just needed to figure out what to do. I called 988 and tried to talk to him. He’s calm! He’s not violent or anything. So, I guess I’ll just let it play itself out.” The dispatcher provided the police department's number before ending the call.
The director of the Mobile County Communications District told FOX10 News that the dispatcher made the wrong judgment call. He stated the agent should have transferred the caller to a supervisor or another unit instead of providing a phone number. The dispatcher is now facing disciplinary action and additional training.
Strayer, the Alabama state director for the National Shattering Silence Coalition, said the system failed to catch four clear red flags. She cited the diagnosed mental illness, the missed medication, and the giving away of possessions as key indicators. “The way that our system is set up, we respond after a tragedy occurs,” Strayer said.
Dr. Lipi Roy, an internal medicine doctor board certified in addiction medicine, explained that stopping lithium abruptly can cause rapid mood symptoms to return. She said levels drop dramatically in the blood within one to three days of stopping the medication. Symptoms of mania or depression may return within days to weeks for people with bipolar disorder.
Strayer said the coalition is asking state Rep. Parker Moore to sponsor a bill for a 72-hour alert. The bill would coordinate 911, EMS, law enforcement, and the 988 crisis line during psychiatric emergencies. Steele was taken to the Alabama Department of Mental Health for an emergency evaluation.
Source: WALA-TV
