Man charged with murder in case of missing Fayette County woman

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — A 36-year-old man is charged with murder following the death of a missing Fayette County woman.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Wade Tucker was arrested by deputies on Monday after the body of 21-year-old Laci Whitson was discovered. Whitson was previously reported missing by her family and reported Tucker was the last person seen with her.

Tucker is currently being held at the Fayette County Jail.

The sheriff’s office stated the investigation into Whitson’s death is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 205-932-3205.

CBS 42 spoke with Tucker’s aunt Annette Dozier Tuesday and she is devastated that her nephew is charged with the murder of his girlfriend.

“I am so sorry, and I pray for her, and she was a pretty girl, and I liked her and everything when he was with her. I got to meet her and she was as nice as she could be to me,” Dozier said.

Investigators say Tucker killed Whitson, wrapped her body in a blanket, then dumped her body in a wooded area near his house located on Fayette County Road 52.

“We had a missing persons report filed by the family of Laci Whitson and our deputies gathered information. That information led them to Michael Tucker and he was the last person with Laci. They went to his residence and a search warrant was executed,” said Sheriff Byron Yerby.

Yerby says just a few days earlier, Tucker drove to Lauderdale County and picked up the victim from a drug rehabilitation facility and brought her back to Fayette County. He says this is the first homicide of the year in Fayette County.

“I would just keep both families in prayer, and they are all suffering. It’s very tough investigating this because we know both families and we knew the victim, so it’s very tough,” Yerby said.

A memorial service will be held on July 3 in Fayette.

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