Whitney Harlow Robeson, 22, died from a single gunshot wound on March 7 at her boyfriend's home in Trussville, Alabama, which was ruled an accident until Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, was charged.
By NIC WHITE, US SENIOR INVESTIGATIONS REPORTER
Published: 18:13 BST, 14 May 2026 | Updated: 18:13 BST, 14 May 2026
A father whose son's girlfriend was shot dead in mysterious circumstances has been charged two months after her death was ruled an accident.
Whitney Harlow Robeson, 22, died from a single gunshot wound on March 7 at her boyfriend Brandon Towers' home in Trussville, Alabama.
The recent university graduate had just started as a trade consultant with Restoration Hardware in Birmingham, Alabama, when she was killed.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office called the shooting accidental at the time, but no details of what happened at 9.21 that night have ever been released.
Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, was abruptly charged with manslaughter on Monday after being arrested without incident about 5pm.
Lawyers Deny Criminal ResponsibilityHe was released a few hours later on $30,000 bail and will face court at a later date yet to be determined.
Towers' lawyers, John Amari and Dain Stewart at Amari Law Firm, denied he was criminally responsible for Robeson's death.
'What happened to Ms. Robeson was a tragic event,' they said in a statement.
'While we understand that the justice system must play out, we know that the facts will show that Mr Towers has no criminal history, has been a productive and upstanding citizen for his entire life, and is not guilty of these charges.'
Robeson graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in the College of Human Sciences interior design program.
Family Pays Tribute to Whitney'Whitney lived with inimitable grace; keen, quiet attentiveness and loyalty; boundless generosity and an uncanny way of always knowing just what she needed to do,' the family wrote in her obituary.
'This marvelous, independent woman was on the cusp of her successful career in interior design: the job she had always wanted since she was a little girl watching HGTV.
'In the precious little time she had been in that role, Whitney's new colleagues and supervisor were instantly taken by her kindness, talent, attentiveness, and integrity.'
Texas assistant principal dies after husband 'accidentally' shot her, cops sayA Texas assistant principal was 'accidentally' shot in the face and killed by her teacher husband, police have said.
Alberto Velasquez, 39, was arrested and charged with manslaughter for killing his wife on Friday.
Benbrook Police said they responded to reports of 'someone accidentally shot in the face' at the family's home in the suburbs of Fort Worth.
First responders found mom-of-three Lindsay Velasquez, 42, unconscious with an apparent gunshot wound at the scene.
She was transported to Harris Hospital Downtown, where she was pronounced deceased, police said.
After an on-scene investigation, officers arrested Velasquez and charged him with manslaughter.
Tarrant County jail records indicate Velasquez was released on a $35,000 bond on Monday. It is unclear when he will appear in court next.
Lindsay was in her second year as assistant principal at Luella Merrett Elementary School.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama town in shock as local father, 54, is charged with killing son's promising 22-year-old girlfriend two months after her death was ruled an accident | 0 | 12.59 | 14-05-2026 |
| 2 | Death of Alabama woman, 22, 'accidentally' shot in chest by boyfriend's dad is ruled a HOMICIDE | 0 | 15.19 | 15-05-2026 |
| 3 | Death of Auburn graduate, 22, now ruled a homicide | 0 | 18.04 | 15-05-2026 |
| 4 | Devastated parents of Alabama woman, 22, lay bare agony in wrongful death lawsuit after she was shot dead by boyfriend's dad | 0 | 7.64 | 19-05-2026 |
| 5 | Parents of woman killed in gun accident file wrongful death lawsuit | 0 | 7.23 | 19-05-2026 |
| 6 | 'Upstanding' Alabama man charged with manslaughter after shooting son's girlfriend | 0 | 12.28 | 15-05-2026 |
| 7 | Alabama man charged in overdose death of 11-year-old | -2 | 5 | 16-07-2026 |
| 8 | Jealous teen shot dead his girlfriend, 15, and her younger brother after chilling threat: cops | 0 | 22 | 24-07-2026 |
| 9 | Father charged in shooting death of 7-month-old girl in St. Louis | -5 | 5 | 29-06-2026 |