Chainsaw Double Homicide In Mobile Prompts Review Of 911 Protocol

Mobile County investigators charged a man with capital murder on Oct. 12 after he killed two relatives inside their home using a chainsaw.

Thomas Steele, 47, faces two counts of capital murder for the deaths of his aunt, Christy DeLoach, and his grandmother, Dora Boone. The killings occurred in the home located on Carolina Court.

Records obtained by FOX10 News show that a 911 call was placed shortly before the incident. The transcript indicates one of the victims contacted the dispatcher regarding her nephew's mental health.

The caller told the dispatcher that Steele had bipolar disorder and had recently stopped taking lithium medication. She noted that he was giving away his personal possessions, including his phone and car, and was exhibiting unusual behavior. The caller stated, "It's in his mind. He's following God."

When asked if Steele was being harmful, the caller replied that he appeared calm and not violent. She said she had already called the 988 crisis line and decided to let the situation "play itself out." The dispatcher then provided the police department's number before ending the call.

The director of the Mobile County Communications District told FOX10 News that the dispatcher made an incorrect judgment. The director stated the agent should have transferred the caller to the appropriate unit instead of providing a phone number. The dispatcher involved now faces disciplinary action and additional training.

Kara Strayer, the Alabama state director for the National Shattering Silence Coalition, argued that the system failed to respond to four clear warning signs. She identified the diagnosed mental illness, the abrupt cessation of medication, and the disposal of belongings as critical indicators. Strayer said, "The way that our system is set up, we respond after a tragedy occurs."

Dr. Lipi Roy, a board-certified internal medicine physician, explained that lithium is used to stabilize mood in patients with bipolar disorder. She noted that abrupt discontinuation can cause rapid recurrence of symptoms. Roy stated that lithium levels drop dramatically within one to three days of stopping the medication and are usually eliminated from the body within one week.

Roy added that most individuals with bipolar disorder are not physically violent while on medication, and even those off medication are not typically known for physical aggression. She emphasized that gradual discontinuation under medical supervision is the standard recommendation to prevent symptom returns.

The coalition is asking state Rep. Parker Moore to sponsor a bill that would create a 72-hour alert system. The proposal aims to coordinate 911, EMS, law enforcement, and 988 during psychiatric emergencies. Strayer described the current approach as a systemic failure that extends beyond Alabama to a nationwide issue.

Steele has been taken to the Alabama Department of Mental Health for an emergency evaluation. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather details regarding the pre-incident events.