SYLACAUGA, Ala. – On Friday, Jan. 13, the Investigations Division of the Sylacauga Police Department (SPD) served Christopher Adam Grantham, 26, with a murder warrant after the elderly man he assaulted back in November passed away due to injuries suffered on that night.
Grantham has been behind bars at the Talladega Count Jail since Dec. 7 after he was arrested in Lynn Haven, Florida on charges of Assault in the 1st Degree and Theft of Property in the 1st Degree.
These charges are the result of an incident that occurred on Nov. 22 of last year.
SPD patrol officers responded to a call of a motor vehicle that had wrecked on W 4th St. in Sylacauga.
When officers arrived, they found 81-year-old Douglas Jude suffering from an extensive amount of trauma. Jude was able to convey to officers what had taken place.
According to Jude, Christopher Grantham came to his house after leaving the Coosa Valley Medical Center (CVMC) Emergency Department. Grantham assaulted the victim while he was lying asleep in his bed.
Grantham then stole Jude’s 2010 Honda Accord along with the victim’s cell phone and left the residence.
Jude later attempted to drive himself to the CVMC emergency room, but due to the severity of his injuries, had an accident.
Jude was taken to CVMC and afterward transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) at UAB Hospital. Jude spent over three weeks in the hospital until he eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Friday, Dec. 16.
Grantham was pulled over in the victim’s vehicle by Lynn Haven police. Grantham was initially arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and held in the Bay County Jail until his extradition back to Talladega County on Dec. 7.
Murder is a Class A felony. If convicted, Grantham could face up to life in prison.
