Convicted Killer Receives Death Sentence for Double Homicide
Derrick Hightower, 36, was sentenced to death by Tallapoosa County Circuit Court Judge William Whorton for the fatal shootings of Barbara Tidwell, 65, and her husband Willie Tidwell, 61, during a robbery at their Dadeville home on April 17, 2020.
Hightower was found guilty of four counts of capital murder and one count of theft in December for the killings of the Tidwells. The court proceedings mark a grim chapter in a crime spree that claimed four lives in two days.
A Spree of Violence Across Alabama
The killing chain began on April 16, 2020, when Hightower allegedly murdered Nancy Nash, 54, at a landscaping business in Auburn. Authorities say he stole Nash’s car to travel 30 miles to the Tidwells’ residence, where he carried out the fatal robbery.
In addition to the Tidwells’ murders, Hightower is accused of killing Antoine Harris, 36, the following day during a robbery at Harris’ home in east Birmingham. According to his 2023 plea agreement, Hightower fatally shot Harris and led police on an hourslong chase in Harris’ stolen car.
Co-Defendant Awaits Trial
Authorities have also charged Kentrice Hill, 24, with capital murder for allegedly aiding Hightower in Nash’s killing. Hill’s next court hearing is scheduled for January 15, and a trial date for Nash’s case has yet to be set.
Additional Sentences for Related Crimes
For Harris’ murder, a Jefferson County judge sentenced Hightower to life without parole. He also received a 20-year sentence for attempting to shoot a police officer during his arrest.
A Final Statement of Remorse
In a 2023 court hearing about Harris’ death, Hightower apologized to the victim’s family, stating, “I want to issue a formal apology to the family.”
The death sentence for the Tidwells’ murders underscores the gravity of a killing spree that devastated families across Alabama and left a trail of grief in its wake.
