BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
A Redland man is in custody charged with the murder of Starr Mulder, an Elmore County woman who was reported missing in 2016.
Tommy Whitehurst, 65, of Redland is in the Elmore County Jail on $1 million bond, according to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin.
Franklin told us a short time ago that Whitehurst was taken into custody this morning on his way to work in Montgomery.
Mulder’s body was found in March one year ago in Covington County in south Alabama. It was located in the Conecuh National Forest. However, at the time, investigators there had to turn over the remains for forensics investigation as the body could not be identified.
Once Covington County officials received the results with a positive identification recently, a year later, they reported that information to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators kept Whitehurst under surveillance until which time they were able to stop him on U.S. Hwy. 231 this morning.
Back in 2016 we covered this story, and have had other reminder articles about Mulder’s missing status since that time. She was living in Redland at the time of her disappearance but was from Wetumpka.
In those articles, we reported that Mulder’s estranged husband (Whitehurst) had originally told investigators that Mulder had recently been ill and had just returned home from the hospital right before she was reported missing. He reportedly said he had left the house to get her breakfast, and when he returned, she was gone.
However, she had not taken personal items, or her vehicle which was still at the house. Due to her health at the time, it was not likely she would have left the house on foot and there was no indication anyone had picked her up.
Investigators at that time collected evidence, but without a body, could not move forward on an arrest.
“We have been in touch with her family, some of which are out of state,” Franklin said. Franklin said his office is very glad to bring some closure to the family who has been waiting for almost five years to know Mulder’s fate.
Franklin said according to forensics investigations, it appears Mulder died from a gunshot from a small caliber gun to the head.
“When Mulder was reported missing, we immediately looked at Whitehurst as a significant person of interest in this case,” Franklin said. “But he is in custody now.”
We will have more information forthcoming on this case as possible.
Our sincere condolences go out to Starr’s family and friends. Throughout the years, her friends and family have reached out, always speaking of her great personality, charm and good nature.
