Valhermoso Springs Mass Murder
Michael Legg and Frederick Rogers opened fire and killed 7 people in Valhermoso Springs, Alabama. Legg and Rogers, along with 3 of the victims, were members of the Seven Deadly Sins Club on June 4, 2020.
Background
It is unclear when the Seven Deadly Sins Club started and what their objectives were as a group, though police have stated that the club was involved with drugs and money, according to Fox News.
On June 4, 2020, Michael Legg, Frederick Rogers, Tammy Muzzey, 45, Jeramy Roberts, 31, James Benford, 22, Emily Payne, 21, Roger Jones Jr., William Hodgin, 18, and Dakota Green, 17, were hanging out at Tammy’s residence. Not all the individuals in the house were members of the club, but investigators believe at least three were.
Earlier in the day, Legg realized he was missing guns and believed a member of the Seven Deadly Sins Club had stolen them from him. This made Legg and Rogers mad; they decided they would end the club. Around 11:30 p.m., they opened fire on the 7 people in the home and murdered them.
John and Legg then set the home on fire and fled the scene.
911 call
On June 4, 2020, 11:32 p.m., an unidentified individual called 911 to report they had heard shots fired. When Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the residence, they noticed smoke coming from inside. Upon entering, they had discovered 7 deceased bodies and a deceased dog; all had obvious gunshot wounds. Deputies recovered 60 spent bullets. The deputies also discovered that all the victim’s cellphones were taken from the crime scene.
Victims
Tammy Muzzey
Tammy Muzzey, 45, was born on November 9, 1974, in Madison County, Alabama. Her parents were Roy Foster and Wanda Thompson. Tammy is survived by her husband, two sons, mother, and stepfather.
Roger Jones Jr.
Roger Jones Jr. was born on May 8, 2000, in Decatur Alabama to Carolyn Holden Jackson and Roger Lee Jones Sr. Roger lived in Alabama and attended Decatur High School. According to his obituary, Roger was a “fun, loving, caring person with a great sense of human and a smile that would brighten anyone’s day.” Roger is survived by his two children, three brothers, three sisters, his father, grandparents, and extended family.
William Hodgin
William Hodgin, 18, was born on November 19, 2001, to William Hodgin and Enola Parker Hodgin. He was born in Madison County, Alabama, and was a student. According to his obituary, he “enjoyed playing video games and anything electronics and like to play the guitar.” He was survived by his mother, father, two sisters, two half-brothers, and his extended family.
Dakota Green
Dakota Green, 17, was from Laceys Spring, Alabama and lived in Huntsville, Alabama, according to her Facebook. She attended Albert P. Brewer High School.
Jeramy Wade Roberts
Jeramy Roberts, 31, was born in Limestone County on July 27, 1988.
James Benford
James Benford was 22 years old. According to James’s Facebook, he was from Decatur, Alabama. He attended Decatur High School and worked as a credit manager at American Eagle.
Emily Payne
Emily Payne, 21 was from Valhermoso Springs, Alabama. She had attended The University of Alabama, according to her Facebook.
Investigation
Over the next two weeks, investigators would conduct multiple interviews and execute several search warrants. On June 18, 2020, they found a female witness who has not been identified, who lived in the home where the mass murder took place. The witness stated that the house was called the “clubhouse”, where the members of the “Seven Deadly Sins” would meet.
The witness told investigators about the 7 Deadly Sins Club and how there had been some turmoil growing within the group leading up to the night of the murder.
Police obtained arrest warrants for Legg and Rogers on June 19, 2020.
According to court documents, the witness recalled Legg and Rogers saying, “We’re going in there by force and wipe the slate clean” and that they were going to “dismantle the club” before the murders occurred.
At 1:35 a.m. on June 6, 2020, (the early hours after the murder) Rogers set the witness a text message stating, “Everything has been dealt with. If anyone asks you, we’re going on vacation.” Rogers also asked the witness to care for his 3-legged cat “Ducky”.
Officials investigated Legg’s phone history and saw his phone had been off since approximately an hour and a half before the murders. They also saw it had been turned on shortly in Kansas. Officials found out Legg and Roges had family in Salem, Oregon and predicted that’s where they would be headed; investigators in Alabama told authorities in Oregon to be on the lookout.
Arrest
June 21, 2020, Legg and Rogers were arrested during a traffic stop in Marion County, Oregon. There were held in a jail in Marion County, Alabama until they were extradited to the Morgan County Jail in Alabama on June 28, 2020.
They were charged with six counts of capital murder.
Court Proceedings
A grand jury indicted Legg and Rogers on six counts of murder. Prosecutors stated they would seek the death penalty for Legg and Rogers. Both have pled not guilty by reason of mental disease and mental defect.
Legg was denied youthful offender statues. In Alabama, youthful offender status can apply to offenders 20 years old and younger. It could result in lesser consequences and no criminal record.
Legg had a competency hearing scheduled for October 2022. Legg’s defense attorney has told the court Legg has been hospitalized multiple times, may have undiagnosed mental health illnesses, and has an 8th grade education. Due to these reasons, the defense stated that Legg cannot aid in his own defense.
Rogers had also sought a mental competency hearing. He has been deemed fit to stand trial.
On June 26, 2022, Legg, while incarnated, stole a trustee uniform and tried to move throughout the facility, with the help of another inmate, Mashaud Tyliek Lewis, 22. Correctional officers realized what was going on and stopped the inmates from escaping. Both Legg and Lewis were charged with second degree escape.