MOBILE, Ala. — A 47-year-old Mobile man accused of decapitating his grandmother and aunt with a chainsaw was removed from his initial court appearance Tuesday after making a remark as a judge appointed him a public defender.
Thomas Henry Steele is charged with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Dora Boone, 85, and Christy DeLoach, 65. Mobile police said officers responded around 1:36 p.m. Monday to the 2400 block of Carolina Court in west Mobile, where they found the two women dead inside the home and detained Steele at the scene.
A court complaint filed Tuesday alleges Steele killed both women “by one act or pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct” and used a chainsaw to decapitate them. The allegations are pending in court, and Steele has not entered a plea or been convicted.
During Tuesday’s bond hearing, Mobile County Circuit Judge Wesley Pipes asked Steele whether he had been able to hire an attorney. Steele said no, and the judge appointed attorney Glenn Davidson to represent him.
Steele then made an audible remark and was removed from the courtroom without incident. AL.com reported that Steele said, “Kill him,” after the appointment, while FOX 10, which was in the courtroom, reported that he said “kill ’em” and that it was unclear whom the comment targeted.
The hearing continued without Steele. Pipes denied bond on both capital murder charges.
Authorities have not identified a motive. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said Steele is believed to have been living at the Carolina Court home with Boone and DeLoach when the killings occurred.
Police have not released additional details about the crime scene. Blackwood declined to discuss investigative findings, saying more information likely would emerge in future court proceedings.
Pipes ordered Steele to undergo a mental competency evaluation through the Alabama Department of Mental Health. If a psychiatrist finds him competent to stand trial, a separate evaluation would examine his mental state at the time of the killings.
Blackwood said the evaluations could take up to 90 days. “I’m not a psychiatrist. It nevertheless appears that there are some issues, but there are going to be the appropriate evaluations to establish whether or not he’s competent right now to proceed,” Blackwood said, according to FOX 10 and AL.com.
Steele remained held without bond at the Mobile County Metro Jail. No preliminary hearing date had been set as of Tuesday.
Mobile police asked anyone with information to call 251-208-7211. Anonymous tips may be submitted by text to 844-251-0644 or through mobilepd.org/crimetip.
A 911 call made before police arrived described Steele as being off his medication for lithium, according to a call transcript reported by Gray Media outlets. The call does not establish a motive or explain what occurred inside the home.