Man Faces Capital Murder Charges In Death Of Elderly Woman

DOTHAN, AL - A homeless man hired by a 91-year-old woman to do yard work is being charged with capital murder for allegedly beating the woman to death Saturday. Joe Nathan Duncan, 58, could face the death penalty if found guilty of the death of Mabel Fowler.

A report by the Dothan Eagle says the incident happened sometime March 17. Dothan Police Chief Chief Steve Parrish said a caregiver called police to Fowler’s residence after trying to call numerous times. When the caregiver arrived, she found the door ajar, and found Fowler dead.

With the help of video from a nearby location, the Dothan Police Department was able to put Duncan in the area at the time of Fowler’s death. According to information obtained during the investigation, Fowler had hired Duncan three weeks ago to do yard work for her.

Duncan has a checkered past, with previous arrests for drug charges and first-degree burglary, Parrish said. Investigators are still working the case. Parrish said the probable cause of death appears to be blunt force trauma and an edged weapon assault. However, an autopsy will be performed to confirm the exact cause of death.

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