Alabama man allegedly decapitates family members with chainsaw hours after 911 warning

Mobile Man Charged with Capital Murder After Alleged Chainsaw Slaughter of Aunt and Grandmother

Mobile, Ala. – Thomas Henry Steele, 47, of Mobile, faces two counts of capital murder after police allege he killed his aunt, Christy Deloach, 65, and his grandmother, Dora Boone, 85, with a chainsaw at their home on Carolina Court on Oct. 12. Steele was detained at the scene and is currently being held without bond at a secure medical facility while he undergoes a competency evaluation at the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH).

Alleged murders

According to a police report released by the Mobile Police Department, the victims were found dead inside the residence when officers responded to a 911 call made hours earlier by a relative. The chain of events that led to the killings began with a call to emergency services in which the caller described Steele as “calm” and “not violent” despite noting that he had stopped taking lithium, had given away his phone and was considering giving away his vehicle. The caller, who was not identified in the report, also mentioned contacting the national suicide prevention hotline, 988, and received a non‑emergency police number from the dispatcher.

Investigators say that Steele allegedly used a chainsaw to decapitate Deloach and Boone. Steele was taken into custody at the scene and a criminal complaint was filed against him. His attorney, public defender Glenn Davidson, confirmed to Fox News Digital that he is still representing Steele but could not disclose details while Steele is undergoing a mental‑competency evaluation.

Threat in court

On Oct. 13, during a bond hearing before Circuit Judge S. Wesley Pipes, Steele reportedly said “kill him” when Judge Pipes appointed public defender Davidson to represent him. Judge Pipes subsequently ordered an inpatient competency evaluation for Steele. “It’s a terrible situation but I won’t have an official way to question anybody until we get to the preliminary hearing,” Davidson said. The DA’s office has not yet decided whether to file additional charges for the threat, pending the results of Steele’s mental‑health assessment. “The defendant is currently being held without bond at a secure medical facility, where he is receiving treatment intended to restore his competency to stand trial,” Tara Zieman, communications director for the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, told Fox News Digital. She added that “if he is found competent, we will move forward with the prosecution and continue to advocate that he remain held without bond until resolution of the case.”

The evaluation is expected to take up to 90 days and will be conducted by ADMH. “Patients begin receiving restoration and treatment services immediately upon admission,” said ADMH public information officer Malissa Valdes in an emailed statement to Fox News Digital. “Patients are referred for their evaluation once their symptoms are stable and they have completed the restoration program. This timeframe varies based on the patient’s treatment, clinical needs, and their symptoms.”

Victims and community reactions

Christy Deloach was a longtime employee at Mr. Sam’s Hair Fashions, where salon owner Lenny Zanghi described her as “just a real sweet girl. Beautiful person. I considered her a friend. You know, she’d been with us for 15 years, and she cut my hair.” Neighbors recalled Deloach as kind, community‑engaged, and someone who often attended local events. She also cared for her mother, Dora Boone, after her father, Phillip Boone, died. The Boone couple had purchased the Carolina Court home in 2014.

Neighbors described Deloach as a kind and friendly woman who enjoyed community events. Dora Boone, the 85‑year‑old grandmother, had lived with Steele and Deloach at the home for many years, according to investigators.

Prior history

Steele’s prior criminal history includes several DUI cases, the most recent of which dated to 2009. No other arrests or convictions have been disclosed.

Legal proceedings

Steele is scheduled for arraignment on Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. before Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Jay York. If found competent, prosecutors will likely pursue the capital murder charges. If deemed incompetent, he will continue to receive treatment at the ADMH facility.

The case has drawn attention to the challenges of handling violent crime amid mental‑health crises. As the evaluation proceeds, prosecutors, defense, and the court await the outcome before moving forward with the case.