Suspect in Anniston murders arrested

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

04-08-2008

An Anniston business owner was in the Calhoun County Jail on Monday, charged with murdering two Anniston residents whose bodies were found in a burning house on Bancroft Avenue in Anniston.

Robert Clarence Ervin, 49, of Weaver was arrested late Friday morning and charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of William Junior Nunn, 26, and Annette Spinks, 47, both of Anniston.

Ervin is an owner of Total Quality Auto Paint & Body Shop on Noble Street.

The bodies of Nunn and Spinks were found March 8 in a burned-out back room of the Bancroft Avenue house. Autopsies showed the two died of multiple gunshot wounds before they were burned beyond recognition.

Anniston police received reports around 9 a.m. on March 8 of a shooting at a residence on the 1400 block of Bancroft. When they arrived at the scene, they found the house burning. The bodies were found by firefighters in a back room. The initial police report listed the fire as arson.

Ervin is being held without bond awaiting a May 15 court date.

Bodies found in burned home identified

By Nick Cenegy
Staff Writer

03-15-2008

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown released the identities Friday morning of two bodies found March 8 in a burned-out back room at a house on Bancroft Avenue in Anniston. William Junior Nunn, 26, and Annette Spinks, 47, both of Anniston, were identified as the victims. They suffered multiple gunshot wounds before they were burned beyond recognition, Brown said. Betty Spinks, mother of Annette Spinks, said the family was devastated by her daughter's murder. "We're not coping well at all with this," she said. "She didn't do anything to anyone. Whoever did this to my child – I hope to God that they get them off the streets." Attempts Friday to reach Nunn's family were unsuccessful. An autopsy earlier this week at the Alabama Department of Forensics laboratory in Huntsville, evidence recovered at the scene, and dental records had to be used to identify the remains. Anniston police received reports around 9 a.m. March 9 of a shooting in the 1400 block of Bancroft. When they arrived at the scene, they found the house burning. The bodies were found by firefighters in a back room. Authorities say they suspected foul play from the beginning. The initial police report listed the fire as arson, and officials said from the beginning that they were treating the case as a homicide. Autopsy reports indicated that the two died from multiple gunshot wounds before the fire began. Spinks said her daughter was a friend and neighbor of Nunn but did not make any further comment on the incident. According to police, a man in a tan or champagne-colored Ford Explorer was seen at the house prior to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Anniston police at (256) 238-1800.

Calhoun County Coroner: Burned bodies were shot

From staff reports

03-13-2008

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown confirmed Wednesday that two bodies found Saturday in a burning Bancroft Avenue house in Anniston were each shot multiple times and the victims died before the fire.

Brown said the coroner's office was close to identifying one of the victims Wednesday but was waiting for more information on the other.

Authorities say they suspected foul play from the beginning.

Anniston police received reports around 9 a.m. Saturday of a shooting in the 1400 block of Bancroft. When they arrived at the scene, they found the house burning. The bodies were found by firefighters in a back room. The initial police report listed the fire as arson.

Investigators originally said one body appeared to be female and one male, but the bodies were so badly burned they have been difficult to identify.

According to police, a white man in a tan or champagne-colored Ford Explorer was seen at the house prior to the incident.

Anniston police are treating the case as a homicide. Police ask for anyone with information to call investigators at (256) 238-1800.

Crime briefs: Police seek identities of 2 found in burning house

By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer

03-11-2008

Police continued Monday to try to piece together what led to the Saturday morning deaths of two people whose bodies were found in a burning house on the 1400 block of Bancroft Avenue.

Police responded to a 9 a.m. 911 call reporting a shooting. When they arrived at the scene they found the house burning. Damage from the fire was largely in a back room and the kitchen area.

After firefighters put out the blaze, they found the bodies in the back room.

Police investigators said by the relative sizes, one body appears to be female and one male, but both are so badly burned that dental records will have to be used to positively identify them.

Investigators said they have an idea as to the identities of the bodies but will not release names until they are sure.

A white man in a tan or champagne-colored Ford Explorer was seen at the house prior to the incident, officials said.

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown said Sunday that authorities have reason to believe both victims were dead before the fire started. Anniston police are investigating the case as a homicide.