Authorities in Alabama have arrested a 33-year-old man two years after he allegedly chased down his boyfriend and strangled him to death with an electrical cord, hiding the body in a cluttered shed. Julian Taylor Morris is facing a murder charge in the death of 31-year-old Deundray Cottrell, a dancer from Atlanta who disappeared during a Fourth of July celebration in Birmingham.
Background
The case dates back to July 2024, when Cottrell and Morris were in Birmingham to celebrate Independence Day with friends. According to family members, Cottrell left around 9 p.m. on July 4 to check on his dog, marking the last time he was seen alive. Family members discovered his shoe and phone in the backyard but could not locate Cottrell himself.
Police reported that surveillance footage captured Cottrell running through several backyards and jumping a fence at the time of his disappearance. Two days after he was reported missing, on July 6, 2024, his body was discovered in a shed near the residence. An electrical cord was found around his neck.
Investigators noted that Morris provided varying accounts of what had happened to Cottrell in the days following the disappearance. He had long been considered a suspect in the case, but remained at large until his recent capture.
The Charges
The Birmingham Police Department confirmed that U.S. Marshals took Morris into custody in Miami on Monday. Officers intercepted him just as he was preparing to board a cruise ship. Morris is currently held in the Miami-Dade County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Alabama to face the murder charge.
In a statement, Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett emphasized the department's commitment to solving cold cases. "This arrest, as well as the other arrest on cases from previous years, show how relentless our department is and how dedicated our officers are. We never stop working for justice," Pickett said. "We will continue to pursue those responsible for violent crimes, no matter where they may run."
Morris' attorney, Victor Revill, maintains his client's innocence. In a statement to AL.com, Revill argued that Morris was with Cottrell's family when the victim went missing. "Mr. Morris cannot be in two places at the same time. It's a physical impossibility," Revill said. "The truth is that we just do not know who caused the death of Mr. Cottrell and we may never know."
Key Takeaways
- Julian Taylor Morris, 33, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Miami while attempting to board a cruise ship.
- Morris is charged with the murder of Deundray Cottrell, 31, whose body was found in a shed in Birmingham, Alabama, in July 2024.
- Authorities allege Morris strangled Cottrell with an electrical cord and hid the body in a shed.
- Surveillance footage showed Cottrell running through backyards and jumping a fence prior to his death.
- Morris' defense attorney claims he was with family members when Cottrell disappeared, citing a physical impossibility of him being at the scene.
What's Next
Julian Taylor Morris remains in custody in the Miami-Dade County Jail pending extradition proceedings to Alabama. Once transferred, he will face formal arraignment on the murder charge in Birmingham. The defense has indicated they will mount a vigorous effort to bring the truth to light, challenging the prosecution's narrative regarding Morris' location at the time of the alleged crime.
Cottrell's family expressed relief at the arrest. His sister, Angelica Harris, told AL.com, "I can't tell you the way I have screamed, the way we all have screamed," reflecting the emotional toll of the two-year wait for justice.