Woman arrested for shoplifting in Wisconsin pleads guilty to Alabama murder

Stephanie Underwood

One of three suspects charged in the 2014 disappearance and death of a 53-year-old Holly Pond man pleaded guilty on Thursday.

Stephanie Underwood, 33, was initially charged with capital murder during a robbery in the slaying of David Hayes, whose body was recovered early in 2015 in a shallow grave off Buck Ridge Road on Pine Mountain. She pleaded guilty to murder and received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey.

In exchange, Underwood will testify against her co-defendants - Matthew Brent Thrasher, 36, and Christopher "Biggun" Jones, 35. Their trial dates have not yet been set.

Matthew Thrasher, Christopher Jones

Thrasher and Underwood were arrested in Wisconsin Jan. 13, 2015 when authorities there say they were shoplifting vodka and energy drinks. Wisconsin police realized the couple was in a stolen car, and later found human blood in that stolen car. That shoplifting arrest turned launched the bizarre murder investigation.

Initially they were charged with petty theft, resisting or obstructing an officer and retail theft in Wisconsin. In Alabama, they were charged with first-degree theft of property until Casey upgraded the charges for all three to capital murder. Jones was arrested in Alabama.

According to court records, Thrasher and Underwood were in a four-door Chrysler Sebring and, after running the license plate through a nationwide law enforcement database, authorities learned the car was registered to Hayes. Hayes had not been seen or heard from by friends and family since Christmas Eve.

Wisconsin authorities obtained a search warrant for the Sebring, and later found "brown, reddish stains" that tested positive for human blood, according to an arrest affidavit for Jones. Underwood and Thrasher were then questioned by authorities, and they indicated Hayes was severely injured or killed at 301 Warrior Pass, which is in Hayden.

That home belonged to Jones. Thrasher and Underwood told authorities that Jones was home at the time and took part in the attack on Hayes. According to the duo, a "stick-like object" was used to hit Hayes.

Underwood told investigators Jones used a pistol to hit Thrasher as well. The attack, they said, took place both inside and outside of Jones' home. An analysis of Underwood's cell phone showed that the last call made by Hayes was to Underwood about 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. The cell phone "pinged" for the last time also on Christmas Day at a cell phone tower within two miles of the Warrior Pass home, according to the arrest affidavit.

Though Underwood and Thrasher initially cooperated with investigators, Casey later said new evidence showed that all three were present and participated in the killing of Hayes.

Casey commended the work of the Kenosha Police Department and the Blount County Sheriff's Office for their work in the case.

One of three suspects charged in the 2014 disappearance and death of a 53-year-old Holly Pond man pleaded guilty on Thursday.

Stephanie Underwood, 33, was initially charged with capital murder during a robbery in the slaying of David Hayes, whose body was recovered early in 2015 in a shallow grave off Buck Ridge Road on Pine Mountain. She pleaded guilty to murder and received a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole, said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey.

In exchange, Underwood will testify against her co-defendants - Matthew Brent Thrasher, 36, and Christopher "Biggun" Jones, 35. Their trial dates have not yet been set.

Thrasher and Underwood were arrested in Wisconsin Jan. 13, 2015 when authorities there say they were shoplifting vodka and energy drinks. Wisconsin police realized the couple was in a stolen car, and later found human blood in that stolen car. That shoplifting arrest turned launched the bizarre murder investigation.

Initially they were charged with petty theft, resisting or obstructing an officer and retail theft in Wisconsin. In Alabama, they were charged with first-degree theft of property until Casey upgraded the charges for all three to capital murder. Jones was arrested in Alabama.

According to court records, Thrasher and Underwood were in a four-door Chrysler Sebring and, after running the license plate through a nationwide law enforcement database, authorities learned the car was registered to Hayes. Hayes had not been seen or heard from by friends and family since Christmas Eve.

Wisconsin authorities obtained a search warrant for the Sebring, and later found "brown, reddish stains" that tested positive for human blood, according to an arrest affidavit for Jones. Underwood and Thrasher were then questioned by authorities, and they indicated Hayes was severely injured or killed at 301 Warrior Pass, which is in Hayden.

That home belonged to Jones. Thrasher and Underwood told authorities that Jones was home at the time and took part in the attack on Hayes. According to the duo, a "stick-like object" was used to hit Hayes.

Underwood told investigators Jones used a pistol to hit Thrasher as well. The attack, they said, took place both inside and outside of Jones' home. An analysis of Underwood's cell phone showed that the last call made by Hayes was to Underwood about 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. The cell phone "pinged" for the last time also on Christmas Day at a cell phone tower within two miles of the Warrior Pass home, according to the arrest affidavit.

Though Underwood and Thrasher initially cooperated with investigators, Casey later said new evidence showed that all three were present and participated in the killing of Hayes.

Casey commended the work of the Kenosha Police Department and the Blount County Sheriff's Office for their work in the case.

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