Homicide is a first for police
By Marty Roney
Montgomery AdvertiserState and area authorities are investigating the weekend homicide of an Autaugaville man.
The body of Maynard Palmer, 62, of Taylor Street was found in a ditch along North Washington Street about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, said District Attorney Randall Houston. The body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.
Preliminary autopsy reports show the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to Palmer's face and head, reports show.
Police Chief Lavon Johnson declined to release more information, saying the case still is under investigation. Autaugaville authorities are being assisted by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Autauga County Sheriff's Department.
Autaugaville is about 15 miles west of Prattville.
Autaugaville formed its police department in 2000, and this is the first homicide the agency has investigated.
"Even before we had a police department, I don't recall many killings down here," said Willie Whetstone, an Autaugaville resident who knows the victim. "We've had a few bad fights, but not many outright killings. Maynard knew some rough people, but I don't know anybody who would want to kill him."
Investigators feel Palmer may have been assaulted at another location and dumped along North Washington Street. Officials don't know if he was dead at the time, or died while in the North Washington Street area.
