Mobile murder suspect released from Metro Jail hours before detention order signed

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) – A FOX10 News investigation raises questions about the timing of a motion to revoke a murder suspect’s bail.

A local family believes it came too late to save the life of a loved one.

On September 10, Mobile Police arrested Jaylen Tyus and charged him with the murder of Aprentice Ethridge.

Mobile police make arrest in hammer murder case at local apartment complex

According to MPD, Ethridge was found beaten with a hammer at the Azalea Pointe Apartments.

Less than 24 hours before the brutal crime occurred, Tyus was released from prison on a domestic violence charge.

Three hours later, a Mobile County judge signed an order that could have sent Tyus to jail.

“In this case, it was unfortunate that the order was not issued until after the defendant had already been released for this offense,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood.

Jail records show Tyus was arrested on September 5 and charged with six counts of domestic violence.

According to court documents, he fired several shots at his daughter, his two stepchildren and his wife.

According to Blackwood, a motion to revoke Tyus' bail was immediately filed on September 6.

He was already released on bail in March after being arrested for serious child abuse.

Blackwood says the order was not issued and signed by a judge until three days later.

“On September 9, an order was made that the defendant be held without bail pending a motion to revoke bail,” Blackwood explained. “However, he was released on the morning of the 9th before that order was made.”

FOX10 News reached out to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office to find out when Tyus was released from jail.

According to MCSO, Tyus was released at 10:00 a.m. the day of Ethridge's murder.

Nearly four hours later, at 1:37 p.m., District Judge George Zoghby signed the motion to revoke Tyus' bail.

Hours later, the victim's mother, Dominique Ethridge, received devastating news about her son.

“My son was murdered. He was hit with a hammer. Hitting someone with a hammer is a personal matter,” his mother said.

His aunt Lesterawin Ethridge says it was all due to a misunderstanding.

“It was a misunderstanding. It was just a misunderstanding,” she said. “And he just wanted to clear his name, but the person who killed him took it the wrong way.”

FOX10 News asked Blackwood why it took three days to sign the order that could have sent Tyus to prison … he says the timing varies.

“In this case, it was three days later. There could be many reasons for that. It could be that a particular judge was in court most of the time because of his schedule. Sometimes the schedule doesn't work out, and that's definitely what happened in this case,” Blackwood said.

Ethridge's family says they want justice and believe Tyus should never have been released from prison.

Tyus has been in Metro Prison since his arrest for murder.

On Monday he was questioned in court and pleaded not guilty.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 24 to attend a hearing on a motion to revoke his bail.

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