Fourth Suspect Pleads Guilty In 2018 Carbon Hill Double Murder

CARBON HILL, AL — A guilty plea has been entered by a fourth of five defendants accused in a 2018 double murder in Carbon Hill.

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24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin said in a press release that Brandon Lowery, 38 plead guilty to two counts of capital murder — murder during the course of a robbery —relating to the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin.

As Patch previously reported, Padilla, 55, and Sandlin, 56, were found shot to death at Padilla’s home outside Carbon Hill on May 1, 2018.

“The state’s position has always been that Lowery was the ringleader who hatched the plan that
resulted in the murders of Mr. Padilla and Mr. Sandlin,” Hamlin said on Tuesday. “I’m pleased we were able to resolve the case and that Brandon Lowery will never pose a threat to the public again.”

The Fayette Police Department and Alabama State Bureau of Investigation conducted the
investigation, which lead to capital murder charges against Lowery and four other defendants.

Lorazo Moran of New Jersey and Lindettia Lynette Lowery of Fairfield both pleaded
guilty in October, while Michael Council of New Jersey entered a guilty plea last July.

Hamlin says all are serving life sentences with no possibility of parole, with Brittany Bell-Spates left as the only defendant whose case remains pending.

“I look forward to working to resolve the final pending case so that some finality with the court cases can be reached for the families of Mr. Padilla and Mr. Sandlin," Hamlin said. "I hope this will provide some measure of help for them in their grieving.”

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