Dothan, Ala. — A long-unsolved murder case in Dothan has been brought to justice after 15 years. A Houston County Grand Jury has indicted 32-year-old Shonqueze Tyrell Franklin in the 2010 shooting death of Grace Bridges, a well-known businesswoman who was gunned down outside her furniture store, Dedert’s Furniture, in the 900 block of South Park Avenue.
The indictment, handed down on Wednesday, April 9, marks a major breakthrough in the case, which had gone cold for over a decade. Authorities say that although Franklin was just 17 years old at the time of the murder, investigators had suspected his involvement for years but lacked the evidence needed to secure an indictment.
Police in Dothan had initially received promising leads following the murder, but the investigation stalled in the years that followed. In a recent review of cold cases, however, investigators were able to gather enough new evidence to present to the grand jury, ultimately leading to the charges.
Lt. Scott Owens of the Dothan Police Department expressed his satisfaction with the progress in the case, calling it a “true build” that could now move forward to trial. “We’re ecstatic that we got this case to go to grand jury,” Owens said. “It was true built and now it can head to trial.”
Grace Bridges, who owned Dedert’s Furniture, was shot and killed in broad daylight in March 2010. Despite the initial leads, the investigation hit numerous dead ends, leaving Bridges’ family and the community with unanswered questions for years.
Chief William Benny praised the relentless efforts of the investigators involved in the case. “While the case had gone unsolved, investigators never gave up in trying to identify Grace Bridges’ killer and bring them to justice. It is our hope that Grace Bridges’ family can finally feel some semblance of peace knowing her killer has been identified and charged, even though we know nothing can bring Grace back.”
Following the indictment, Franklin was taken into custody on Wednesday and placed in the Houston County Jail. The case is now poised to head to trial, and authorities are hopeful that the trial will provide some closure for the family of Grace Bridges.
As the investigation moves forward, the Dothan Police Department is encouraging the community to come forward with any additional information that could further assist in the case. The department’s dedication to solving cold cases is a testament to their commitment to justice, no matter how much time has passed.
The case continues to develop, and more updates are expected in the coming weeks.
