Domestic situation leads to woman's death
By Tom Smith
Senior Staff Writer
Published: Monday, December 21, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 21, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.
ZIP CITY - A Lauderdale County woman was shot and killed and the father of her children is accused in her death.
The couple were meeting for parental exchange of their two young children Monday morning, authorities said.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Ronnie Willis said Hollie Elizabeth Newbury, 24, 21400 Lauderdale 14, was killed during the domestic altercation.
Newbury was pronounced dead at the scene by Lauderdale County Coroner Andy High. Her body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy.
Christopher Michael Rich, 31, 1801 Lauderdale 298, Florence, is in jail and charged with murder. He had been living at a residence on Lauderdale 8.
The shooting took place outside a residence at 10881 Alabama 17, which is just past the Zip City Senior Citizens Center.
Willis said his department was notified of the shooting at 9:48 a.m. He said Rich was taken into custody within 30 minutes after he drove to the Lauderdale County Courthouse parking lot and tried to contact a family member to take care of the two children while he saw an attorney.
Rich is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center without bail at this time.
