(COLUMBIANA, AL) On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at approximately 7:20 pm, Shelby County 911 Dispatch received a call in reference to a suspicious person in the 100 block of Highway 97 in the Summerhill community near Columbiana. Deputies from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded and received additional information, which led them to a residence in the 100 block of Highway 315 in the Summerhill community. After arriving, deputies discovered the resident, Dinah Davis Northcutt, age 77 of Columbiana, to be deceased in her home. Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division then responded to the scene to investigate her death as a homicide.
Following the initial response, investigators discovered additional information that led to the arrest of Ms. Northcutt’s grandson, Richard Alan Howell, age 31 from Columbiana, AL. Howell is being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $150,000.00 bond for the charge of Murder.
Sheriff John Samaniego encourages anyone with information to please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 205-670-6000. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, or on their website at www.crimestoppersal.com.