By Gerri Miller
Staff Writer
There is probable cause in the double murder case of Prattville suspect Hunter James Tatum and his cash-only bond will remain at $400,000, Judge Joy Booth ruled in a preliminary hearing today.
A preliminary hearing is a proceeding before a judicial officer in which the officer must decide whether a crime was committed, whether the crime occurred within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, and whether there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the crime.
In Alabama, bonds can be posted by putting up property valued at the amount of the bond, or by going through a bonding company. A bonding company usually requires 10% of the bond amount in cash. A cash-only stipulation requires the entire bond amount be paid in cash.
C.J. Robinson, chief deputy district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, said the next step will be taking the case to a grand jury once all the evidence is gathered. Chip Cleveland is Tatum’s attorney. His first attorney, Trey Norman, withdrew from the case citing a conflict of interest.
Summer Knight Tatum was six months pregnant with her infant son when she was shot twice in the back of the head on October 18th. Both she and her baby died after being transported to Baptist South Hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries. The baby, who she had named Everett, was born alive and place in the NICU, where died a short time later.
Family members of the victim packed the benches and many were visibly upset by the testimony.
Hunter Tatum, 25, was originally booked into the Autauga County Metro Jail for Domestic Violence/Assault 1s degree with a bond of $150,000. New charges for two counts of murder were added after the death of Summer Tatum and her baby. Bond on those charges is $200,000 per charge.
Hunter Tatum was noticeably shaking as a Prattville Police Department investigator detailed how he found the victim shot in the head in the back bedroom of the couple’s home on Sunset Court. The defense revealed that the security system in the Tatum house had cameras pointed at the back door and that the couple’s argument and the murders can be seen on video, although partially obscured, through the cracks in the blinds.
Robinson said next door neighbors also have a video camera on the back porch that picked up clear audio of the argument and the crime.
Cleveland tried to establish that Hunter Tatum is not a flight risk and that the shooting was in self-defense. “Hunter immediately called 911 and tried to get medical help for his wife,” Cleveland said. “When law enforcement arrived, he fully participated in the investigation. He never lawyered up.”
Robinson said there is no evidence that Hunter Tatum attempted to render medical assistance to his wife or his child. He said there is a possibility that the charge could be upgraded to Capital Murder, but that decision won’t be made until the grand jury convenes.
“This was not an argument that went too far, it was an evil act that ended in the murders of two people,” Robinson said.
Summer Knight Tatum posted about her pregnancy and her excitement in meeting her then unborn son, on social media prior to her death. Many happy photos document her relationship and marriage to the suspect in her death.
Earlier in October, Summer wrote on social media, “We are on to our next adventure, and we’re more than halfway there! We had our anatomy scan last week and everything looks perfect so far. There were just a few things not visualized so we get to have another look in a couple of weeks. I am so blessed by this pregnancy, but it has been HARD, and at this point I can only assume it’ll be that way to the end. We are so excited to meet our baby BOY.”
Summer Tatum worked as a registered radiologic technologist. She was just 26.
