Three Individuals Indicted in Connection with Birmingham Man’s Death
Birmingham – Three suspects have been indicted in the harrowing case involving the death of a 43-year-old Birmingham man. The man, identified as David Nicholas, was brutally abducted, stripped and tortured. The incident took place two days before Christmas 2023 and has since sparked outrage and shock among the local community.
Overview of the Case
A grand jury in Jefferson County issued the indictments against the suspects on July 19, 2024. The arrested individuals include 43-year-old Dustin Harry Stanfield from Hoover, Joshua Corey Guthrie, 33, from Fairfield, and Brittany Patterson, 34, from northern Jefferson County. All three face charges of capital murder in Nicholas’s death.
Besides, they are also accused of kidnapping Nicholas’s girlfriend, who was also stripped, beaten, and held captive for roughly 12 hours. Tragically, she had to witness Nicholas’s death before enduring her ordeal. It should be noted that Nicholas’s girlfriend is the ex-girlfriend of suspect Stanfield.
The Night of the Incident
On December 23, 2023, local Birmingham 911 received a distressing call from a resident at Lake Lane N.E who heard a series of gunshots. Upon arriving at the location, the resident found Nicholas with his hands tied behind his back, severely injured in her carport area. Despite attempts to free him from his bonds, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and he was declared dead less than an hour later.
The assailants had bound Nicholas with black tape and a strap and subsequently took him outside, where he was fatally shot. Witnesses narrate a horrifying sequence of violence before the shooting, including the brutal torture of Nicholas and his girlfriend. The suspects ultimately forced Nicholas and his companion into a car trunk. Amid the commotion, the witnesses managed to escape the scene, fearing for their lives.
Kidnapping of the Girlfriend
Nicholas’s girlfriend was brought to a residence where Patterson had been residing while Stanfield and Guthrie were already there. The chemical poured over her during the brutal ordeal began to burn in contact with the water, thereby preventing her from showering. As she tried to navigate through this torment, the local police received information regarding their vehicle and immediately issued a lookout bulletin. Leeds police managed to locate the car at a local Walmart the next day, rescuing the girlfriend and apprehending Guthrie.
Suspects in Custody
All three suspects are currently detained without any bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Stanfield was apprehended the day following Guthrie’s arrest, while Patterson was taken into custody a week later in Woodlawn. At present, no trial date has been set. For these atrocious acts, the perpetrators may well face severe legal ramifications.
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
