An Alabama man is accused of using a chainsaw to decapitate two relatives after another family member called 911 to report concerns about his behavior.
Prosecutors are also considering whether to file additional charges after the Mobile suspect allegedly told a judge to kill his court-appointed lawyer.
Thomas Henry Steele, 47, faces two counts of capital murder in connection with the Oct. 12 deaths of his aunt, Christy Deloach, 65, and grandmother, Dora Boone, 85. The women were killed at their home on Carolina Court in Mobile.
At a bond hearing and initial court appearance on Oct. 13, Circuit Judge S. Wesley Pipes ordered Steele to undergo an inpatient competency evaluation. The order came after Steele said “kill him” when the judge appointed public defender Glenn Davidson to represent him.
Thomas Henry Steele (Mobile County Metro Jail)
Davidson confirmed to News Media that he continues to represent Steele, but said he could not provide further details while his client undergoes a mental competency evaluation.
“It’s a terrible situation but I won’t have an official way to question anybody until we get to the preliminary hearing,” Davidson said.
Tara Zieman, communications director for the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors “have not decided” whether to pursue new charges over the alleged threat. The decision will be made after Steele’s mental health evaluation.
“The defendant is currently being held without bond at a secure medical facility, where he is receiving treatment intended to restore his competency to stand trial,” Zieman said.
“If he is found competent, we will move forward with the prosecution and continue to advocate that he remain held without bond until resolution of the case.”
The competency evaluation could take as long as 90 days, according to the district attorney’s office. It will be conducted through the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
“Patients begin receiving restoration and treatment services immediately upon admission,” Malissa Valdes, ADMH’s public information officer, said in an emailed statement to News Media.
“Patients are referred for their evaluation once their symptoms are stable and they have completed the restoration program. This timeframe varies based on the patient’s treatment, clinical needs, and their symptoms.”
911 call
A relative contacted 911 hours before police found the two women’s bodies, expressing concern about Steele’s behavior.
Thomas Henry Steele allegedly killed his aunt, Christy Deloach, and grandmother, Dora Boone, at their home on Carolina Court in Mobile. (Google Maps)
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According to a 911 transcript obtained by AL.com, the caller said Steele had stopped taking lithium, given away his phone and talked about giving away his vehicle. She described him as bipolar and said he intended to “live for God.”
“He’s calm. He’s not violent or anything,” the caller told the dispatcher.
The caller also said she had contacted 988. Before ending the call, the dispatcher gave her the non-emergency phone number for Mobile police.
A criminal complaint alleges that Steele killed both women with a chainsaw, NBC 15 News reported. Officers found the victims dead inside the home and detained Steele at the scene.
Zieman said she did not know whether the victims or any other relatives had previously taken legal steps to have Steele placed under observation for mental health treatment.
Steele’s prior incarcerations included “several DUI cases, the most recent dating to 2009,” according to Zieman.
Steele is scheduled for arraignment Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. before Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Jay York.
‘Beautiful person’
Deloach spent 15 years working at Mr. Sam’s Hair Fashions in Mobile, where salon owner Lenny Zanghi described her as a hardworking stylist who lifted others’ spirits.
Christy Deloach was killed in Mobile, Alabama. (Facebook/Christy Deloach)
“Just a real sweet girl. Beautiful person. I considered her a friend. You know, she’d been with us for 15 years, and she cut my hair,” Zanghi told WKRG.
Neighbors described Deloach as being kind and attending events in the community.
She also cared for her mother, Dora, after her father, Phillip Boone, died. The Boone couple purchased the home in 2014, Lagniappe Daily reported.
Investigators said that they believe the suspect lived at the home with the victims.
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