Barbara Ann Bell, 68, was found unresponsive at a home on the 2600 block of Frederick Road in Opelika after a rescue call on February 6, 2024. She was taken to East Alabama Medical Center and admitted to intensive care, then died on February 8. What began as a medical emergency turned into a criminal inquiry when investigators focused on her husband, Spencer Tracy Bell.

Opelika Police arrested Spencer Bell on February 13, 2024, charging him with Elder Abuse and Neglect in the First Degree, and on February 16 they took him into custody again on an added charge of Domestic Violence in the First Degree. Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and additional charges were possible. Later reports indicated a Lee County grand jury returned an indictment charging felony murder; he was reported held in the Lee County Detention Facility as the case proceeded through the courts.

Does anyone have information about Barbara’s last days or the household on Frederick Road that could help the investigation?