UPDATE: Body exhumed from ‘small hole,’ possible connection to missing Alabama woman, Paighton Houston
Original Story
Multiple police agencies surrounded a residential area in Hueytown, Alabama, on Thursday. On Friday, officials returned with a search warrant.
CBS 42 reports that the Metro Area Crime Center, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, and the Birmingham, Trussville, and Hueytown police cordoned off a residential area in Hueyville, off of Chapel Drive at Love Street, near a girl’s softball field on Thursday.
On Friday morning, the search shifted to a home off of Chapel Drive, near the corner of Love Street. At least nine unmarked police cars parked by the home while numerous law enforcement officials gathered by the right side and behind the residence.
Hueytown is around 15 miles south of the Tin Roof bar in Birmingham, the last place missing 29-year-old Paighton Houston, of Trussville, was supposedly last seen. According to the Trussville Tribune, a tip regarding Houston led authorities to the Hueytown area.
Live in Hueytown, developing news
Posted by The Trussville Tribune on Friday, January 3, 2020
As CrimeOnline previously reported, a coworker reportedly said she went to the Tin Roof bar with Houston on December 20 after they got off work. Someone later contacted Houston’s family and said Houston was last seen leaving the bar at around 10:45 p.m. with “two heavy set black males.” Houston’s family then called 911 and relayed the information.
According to Sergeant Johnny Williams with the Birmingham Police Department, authorities did not see Houston on security footage with two men. They have not found anyone matching their descriptions, Williams said. It’s unclear whether police spotted Houston on security footage at all.
Friends posted on social media that Houston didn’t know the men she left with. Later that night, she reportedly sent a text message to a friend indicating that she could be in trouble.
“idk who im with so if I call please answer. I feel in trouble,” the text message said, according to Trussville Tribune.
“We’re pretty much in the same place that we were when we first reported her missing,’’ Williams told Al.com last week. “We don’t have any other leads. We’ve exhausted the ones we’ve had to this point, but we’ll continue to investigate and try to develop new leads.”
Williams said that Paighton’s disappearance is a “strange” case. He wouldn’t confirm if he felt that foul play was involved.
Last week, Governor Kay Ivey issued a $5,000 reward for valid information in connection with the case. Crime Stoppers is also offering a $5,000 cash reward for valid information.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Paighton Houston/Handout]
