Suspect In Fatal Homewood Crash Nabbed In Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Police Department says a man suspected of causing a fatal crash during a police pursuit in Homewood has been taken into custody in Tuscaloosa.

Jordan Markice Ricks, 28, was arrested at a Tuscaloosa apartment complex just after 8 a.m. Thursday, according to a social media post from TPD.

Ricks has been transported to Homewood to face charges of murder and leaving the scene of an accident in the traffic death of Robyn Naftel Herring, 42, of Homewood — a UAB nurse practitioner and mother of two daughters. Herring was killed when Ricks allegedly crashed into her car while fleeing Vestavia Hills Police Wednesday night.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

A VHPD officer reportedly pulled Ricks over near Alford Avenue around 6:35 p.m. Monday and as the officer was returning to his patrol car, Ricks sped away, exiting off I-65 to Lakeshore Parkway. The vehicle was then seen jumping the median, before crashing into the Jeep Wrangler occupied by the victim, another adult and her two daughters.

Once on scene, Ricks initially refused to exit the apartment, TPD said, but spoke with negotiators and eventually surrendered about 30 minutes later without incident.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com