Video: Ex-Husband Charged With Capital Murder In Vernon Woman’s Disappearance

Brandon Sykes
Source: Lamar County Sheriff’s Office

Bill Wheeler
Source: Lamar County Sheriff’s Office

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VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) – The ex-husband of a missing Vernon, Alabama woman is charged with capital murder.

The arrest warrant for Brandon Sykes, 33, was issued on Tuesday.

He had been in the Pickens County jail on interference with custody and aggravated stalking charges in connection with 29 year-old Keisha Turner’s disappearance.

District Attorney Chris McCool says those charges have now been dropped because of the new charge of capital murder.

If convicted, Sykes faces life without parole or the death penalty.

Sources close to the investigation say Turner’s body has not been found.

Turner told family members she was going to run errands on February 19th but never returned to her Old Highway 18 home in Vernon.

Turner’s mother told WCBI she saw blood and signs of forced entry in the house.

Her vehicle was found burned in Lowndes County.

McCool would not talk about what police found. However, he says based on the evidence he’s satisfied the capital murder charge is appropriate.

In connection with this case, 67 year-old Bill Wheeler is charged with hindering prosecution.

Wheeler is accused of misleading investigators, but McCool wouldn’t say what the Vernon man did to be charged.

Sources tell WCBI Sykes worked at Wheeler’s business in Vernon.