4th man in 2018 West Alabama double murder case pleads guilty

April 11, 2023

WVUA 23 Digital,

The fourth of five defendants charged in a 2018 double murder case pleaded guilty Monday and will serve life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Brandon Lowery, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder that stemmed from the shooting deaths of Hernan Antonio Padilla and Allen Clifford Sandlin, 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin announced.

Padilla, 55, and Sandlin, 56, were found shot to death at Padilla’s home outside Carbon Hill on May 1, 2018. After an extensive investigation, Lowery and four other defendants were charged with capital murder.

The other defendants are:

Lorazo Moran of New Jersey, who pleaded guilty in October
Lindettia Lynette Lowery of Fairfield, who pleaded guilty in October
Michael Council of New Jersey, who pleaded guilty in July
Brittany Bell-Spates, whose case remains pending

“The state’s position has always been that Lowery was the ringleader who hatched the plan that resulted in the murders of Mr. Padilla and Mr. Sandlin,” Hamlin said. “I’m pleased we were able to resolve the case and that Brandon Lowery will never pose a threat to the public again.”

Moran, Lindettia Lowery and Council were all sentenced to life with no possibility of parole.

“Investigator Jamey Bozeman and Ronald Stough worked tirelessly on this investigation,” Hamlin said. “There was a tremendous amount of digital data and information that had to be obtained and processed before these individuals were developed as suspects.”

Without the technology and work of investigators, Hamlin said it’s likely the suspects would still be free.

“I look forward to working to resolve the final pending case so that some finality with the court cases can be reached for the families of Mr. Padilla and Mr. Sandlin,” Hamlin said. “I hope this will provide some measure of help for them in their grieving.”