On the evening of December 20, 1976, 21-year-old Quenette Shehane left a fraternity house in Jefferson, Alabama, for a short trip to a convenience store and never returned. Her nude, frozen body was found the next day by the roadside; she had been abducted, raped, and shot multiple times. Her car was recovered nearby with her belongings, including wrapped Christmas presents, still inside.

Investigators focused on three students from Daniel Payne College: Wallace Norrell Thomas, Eddie Bernard Neal, and Jerry Lee Jones. Thomas was arrested a month later during an armed robbery; the handgun in his possession was ballistically linked to the murder weapon, his palm print was found on Shehane’s car, and a television taken from her vehicle was traced to him. All three were charged in the abduction, rape, and murder.

Wallace Norrell Thomas was identified as the triggerman and was convicted. Eddie Bernard Neal was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Jerry Lee Jones was initially sentenced to death, later resentenced to life, and has been denied parole multiple times.