Alibi summaries
YOKNAPATAWPHA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Investigating Officer(s): Det. S. Murphy. Det. T. Armstrong
Incident No.: 001187-05C-2023
Case Description: Ambrose Garrett death investigation
Based on witness statements during interviews, investigators put together the following summary of the witness alibis for the afternoon and night of Sunday, March 5, 2023, when Ambrose Garrett died.
An alibi is designated partially or tentatively substantiated when:
- The witness's alibi is corroborated only by another witness who has a close personal relationship with him/her.
- One or more portions of the witness's time remain uncorroborated.
- The corroboration for all or part of the alibi is not conclusive.
Arbuckle
Name: Julie Arbuckle
Description: HOA Past President; found the body
Alibi: Arrived at the HOA meeting before 5:00 p.m. and was one of the last to leave. Received a call from Delilah around 9:30 p.m. to check on Ambrose. Found the body and called 911 at 9:52 p.m.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Delilah confirmed her call. Mary Wallace and David McMahan confirmed early arrival and late departure from the meeting. The exact arrival time and whereabouts between departure and Delilah's call could not be confirmed.
Bower
Name: Shannon Bower
Description: Whitehall resident; disagreed with the victim's HOA policies
Alibi: Arrived at the HOA meeting on time and first said she left at the end. Later admitted she left early, stopped by Bryan Mortimer's house, and arrived home at 7:30 p.m., where she stayed the rest of the night.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed her presence at the meeting. Mary Wallace confirmed early departure. Bryan confirmed she was at his house. Marti Scarr confirmed her arrival at home and presence there that night.
Covington
Name: Jamie Covington
Description: Whitehall resident
Alibi: Hosting a party at his house. Left a couple of times to get supplies and stop by the HOA meeting. Left the meeting when it ended around 7:00 p.m.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed his presence at the meeting, arriving around 5:20 p.m. and leaving around 7:00 p.m. His whereabouts after that time could not be confirmed.
Edwards
Name: Warren Edwards
Description: Victim's next-door neighbor
Alibi: Arrived early for the HOA meeting and left when it ended at 7:00 p.m. Later admitted returning for a private conversation with Ambrose, which lasted 10–15 minutes.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Mary Wallace and David McMahan confirmed early arrival. His post-meeting conversation with Ambrose and Ambrose's condition when Warren left could not be confirmed.
Garrett
Name: Delilah Garrett
Description: Victim's wife
Alibi: At work at the hospital from about 3:00 p.m. until detectives arrived to notify her of her husband's death.
Verified? Yes
Verification: Multiple hospital employees confirmed her presence there, and no one noticed her leaving the hospital grounds.
Hawkins
Name: Chester Hawkins
Description: Apprehended at the scene
Alibi: Found outside the community center after the body was discovered. Confessed to murder but could not identify the victim.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Community center neighbor Charles Muldoon saw Chester wandering in the area, but no witnesses reported seeing Chester inside the community center that day.
McMahan
Name: David McMahan
Description: HOA Treasurer
Alibi: Arrived just before 5:00 p.m. for the HOA meeting and left after it ended around 7:20 p.m.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed the meeting started shortly after he arrived. Mary Wallace confirmed she and David left the community center together around 7:20 p.m.
Tyler
Name: Patrick Tyler
Description: Whitehall resident; Delilah Garrett's college friend
Alibi: Arrived early for the HOA meeting and left when it ended at 7:00 p.m. He then went to Jamie Covington's party until about 9:00 p.m., when he went home and to bed.
Verified? Partially
Verification: David McMahan confirmed Patrick was at the meeting when David arrived. Patrick's post-meeting activities could not be confirmed.
Wallace
Name: Mary Wallace
Description: HOA Secretary
Alibi: Was one of the first to arrive before the HOA meeting and left after it ended around 7:20 p.m.
Verified? Partially
Verification: Multiple witnesses confirmed Mary was at the community center when they arrived. David McMahan confirmed he and Mary left the community center together around 7:20 p.m., and he saw her walk to her home. Her whereabouts after that time could not be confirmed.
