At a recent status conference, St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Charles Robinson tentatively set the capital murder trial for Jordan Tyler Durden, 22, of Moody, for the latter part of January or early February.
Durden was indicted for the capital murder of his grandfather, John Calvin Durden, 69, and the attempted murder of his grandmother, Eva Durden, both of Moody.
Durden is also facing charges of promoting prison contraband after authorities found him with two handmade metal shanks while in custody at the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Jail.
Durden’s defense attorneys, Stan Brown and Aaron McClendon, filed a motion with the court to review the crime scene with their client. The state has 30 days to respond to the motion.
The murder and attempted murder took place at Durden’s grandparents’ home.
Durden allegedly stabbed his grandfather to death with a large knife. He allegedly cut his grandmother’s throat with a sharp piece of glass from a broken flower vase he used to hit her over the head with.
According to testimony from Moody police investigator Paul Monk at Durden’s preliminary hearing last year, the suspect, who lived with his grandparents, had a “to do” list, which included names of several women he had allegedly planned to rape, torture and kill after he stole his grandparents’ money and valuables and loaded them into the couple’s vehicle.
Eva Durden spoiled her grandson’s plan that summer night, July 30, 2008 when, she managed to lock herself inside a room and call 911, according to testimony.
Monk testified Durden confessed to the capital murder of his grandfather and attempted murder of his grandmother to Panama City police.
Durden fled to Florida after the murder and attempted murder of his grandparents.
“They said I was worthless,” a Panama City police officer wrote in his report that Durden said. “I killed them both and stole their van.”
Monk also testified Durden confessed to the murder and attempted murder to local authorities, once by tape recording at the Bay County Sheriff’s Department Jail in Florida and once by video tape after Durden was transported back to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Jail in Pell City.
Durden also provided a written statement.
At the preliminary hearing, Monk testified Durden’s grandparents suspected their grandson of stealing jewelry and $4,000 in cash prior. The couple reported the theft July 18, 2008, 13 days before the murder and attempted murder.
Monk testified at last year’s preliminary hearing that Eva Durden notified authorities later that she found her jewelry, but the money was never recovered.
Durden has remained in custody of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and held in the county jail without bond since his arrest in 2008.
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