More than two years after Deundray Cottrell disappeared during a Fourth of July celebration in Birmingham, Alabama, authorities have arrested a Georgia man in connection with his death.
Julian Taylor Morris, 33, of Jonesboro, Georgia, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Miami on September 14, 2026, according to Birmingham police. He is facing a murder charge in the death of Cottrell, 31, who was visiting family in Birmingham from Atlanta. Morris remains in custody in Miami while he awaits extradition to Alabama.
Cottrell was reported missing on July 4, 2024, after spending the holiday with relatives and friends in Birmingham. Police began searching for him after his family could no longer locate him. During the early search, officers recovered clothing believed to belong to Cottrell, while surveillance footage helped investigators establish where he had been seen.
Two days after he disappeared, officers searching near the area where Cottrell was last seen discovered his body in the 7800 block of 5th Avenue South. The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the manner of death a homicide. At the time, police identified Morris as a person of interest and said investigators were continuing to examine witness accounts, electronic records and other evidence.
Investigators have since alleged that Cottrell was chased through nearby yards before his death. More recent reports also say an electrical cord was found around his neck when his body was discovered in a shed. Those details form part of the allegations surrounding the murder charge and have not been established as facts through a trial.
Cottrell’s disappearance began with a confusing scene on the night of July 4. According to family accounts reported after the investigation began, he had gone to check on his dog and did not return. His phone and a shoe were later found in the backyard, while surveillance footage showed him moving through the surrounding area.
The case remained unresolved for more than two years before the arrest in Florida. Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett said investigators remained committed to pursuing the case and finding those responsible for Cottrell’s death.
Cottrell’s family has previously spoken publicly about the emotional impact of the case and the uncertainty surrounding his disappearance.
Morris has denied responsibility through his attorney, Victor Revill. His defense has argued that Morris was with Cottrell’s family around the time Cottrell disappeared and that investigators have not established who caused Cottrell’s death. The defense has said it plans to challenge the murder allegation in court.
Morris is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. He is expected to be extradited to Alabama to face the murder charge. The case remains pending, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.
