David Jonathan Thornton, 51, was found dead in his Piney Chapel home near Athens, Alabama, in the early hours of March 29, 2021, suffering fatal gunshot wounds to the head and chest. The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about 3 a.m. The scene and subsequent investigation quickly focused on someone close to him.

Authorities arrested his 27-year-old son, Daniel Thornton, and charged him with murder. Hours before the shooting the pair had been involved in a physical altercation, and investigators reported Daniel had reportedly used methamphetamine earlier that day. Daniel told investigators he had been in the bathroom when he heard gunshots and then discovered his father’s body, but he contacted a friend of his father before calling law enforcement.

A .357 handgun believed to belong to David Thornton was recovered from a burn pile on the property; it contained three spent shell casings and was submitted for forensic analysis to see if it matched the bullets recovered at the scene. Anyone who knew David or has information about the events leading up to March 29, 2021, is asked to come forward.