Office of the Attorney General: A.G. KING ANNOUNCES CONVICTION OF PASTOR FOR KILLING HIS WIFE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 15, 2008

For More Information, Contact:
Joy Patterson 334.242.7491
Suzanne Webb 334.242.7351


(MONTGOMERY)-- Attorney General Troy King announced that a retired Bibb County pastor today was convicted for killing his wife in 2005. Earnest Stokes, of Centreville, pleaded guilty in Bibb County Circuit Court to manslaughter. Stokes admitted that he had shot and killed his wife with a .22-caliber rifle. He was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

"Syble Stokes' family has suffered a terrible loss, and nothing can bring her back to those who loved her or take away their pain," said Attorney General King. "It was their wish that her killer—her husband—admit that it was he who had taken her life. Today, we respect the wishes of the victim's family, by accepting the guilty plea that resulted in a sentence of 20 years in prison."

On September 20, 2005, Stokes called 911 at around 11 p.m. to report that someone had broken into his home. Law enforcement officers arrived and found Syble Stokes dead of a single shot to her head. Stokes claimed that he had gone to his garage door and that someone had thrown gasoline in his face and struck him twice in the head with a rough object, causing him to lose consciousness for about 45 minutes. A hospital examination revealed slight abrasions to Stokes face and scrapes to his knees, but no internal bleeding, subdural hematoma, or evidence of concussion.

Attorney General King commended Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Arrington, Will Dill, Don Valeska and Audrey Jordan, and Victim Service Officer Doris Hancock, for their outstanding work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. He also thanked the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the Centreville Police Department, and the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.