A 19-year-old girl arrested in Ohio is the fifth suspect charged in last year’s shooting of a man in Andalusia in a possible murder-for-hire scheme.
U.S. Marshals took 19-year-old Alyssa Stewart into custody in Lima, Ohio, Friday morning. She is charged with felony murder in the Oct. 19, 2022, death of 22-year-old Teyvous Cobbins of Evergreen.
Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson said Cobbins was found wounded when officers responded to reports of gunfire at the Foxwood Village Apartments. The victim was inside a vehicle.
He was taken via helicopter to a Florida trauma center where he was pronounced dead the next day.
Those arrested earlier this year in Cobbins’ death are: 20-year-old Derrick Demetrius Thomas, 20-year-old Le’Morion Lorenzo Fantroy, 19-year-old Siyonesty Marchelle Gill and 20-year-old Teddy Donnell Cozart.
Cozart was arrested in Indiana in May after he was stopped for speeding by Indiana State Troopers. He has since been extradited and is being held in the Covington County Jail, as are Thomas, Fantroy and Gill.
All four are being held without bond under Aniah’s Law.
According to court document in the case against Thomas, “the nature and circumstances of the charged offense indicate a murder ‘for hire’ scheme or, at the least, an exchange of money after the murder occurred,’’ wrote Covington County District Judge Julie Moody in an order following a June bond hearing and preliminary hearing.
The judge wrote that evidence indicates Thomas received $1,300 via Cash App on the night of the murder to compensate him for the murder.
According to court documents, Thomas ambushed Cobbins while he was leaving the apartment complex. At least 12 rounds were fired.
Evidence also shows, the judge wrote, that Thomas paid one of his co-defendants $200 for giving him a ride to and from the murder scene.
In deciding to keep Thomas held without bond, the judge’s order noted that had no ties to the community and no known employment. Facebook images, she said, indicated he had considerable access to guns.
The judge’s order said Thomas’s DNA matched DNA obtained from clothing found in the trunk of the automobile which transported the shooter.
Stewart was booked into the Allen County Jail in Ohio at 10:10 a.m. Friday. She is being held without bond awaiting extradition to Alabama.
A motive in the killing of Cobbins has not yet been disclosed.
Hudson said the investigation into this case is ongoing and asked that anyone with information about the case call the APD at 334-222-1155, or Central Alabama Crimestoppers at 334-215-STOP (334-215-7867).
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