Sheriff: Alabama man accused of killing Florida father in front of child is ‘human piece of trash’

An Alabama man remains in jail, accused of killing a Florida father in the presence of a small child at the center of a custody dispute.

At a press conference today announcing an additional arrest in the case, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson referred to the suspect from Alabama as “a human piece of trash.”

Jason Layne Curtis, 53, of Cullman, Ala., was arrested last week and charged with the murder of 24-year-old Colby Vinson. Santa Rosa deputies found Vinson dead from a gunshot wound about 9:30 p.m. on March 19 at an apartment complex in Navarre, Fla. The sheriff says that Vinson’s 4-year-old son was standing near Vinson when Curtis allegedly fired the gun.

The motive, investigators believe, is a custody battle between Vinson and Curtis’ former stepdaughter, Rachiel Moore. An arrest report shows Moore made contact with Curtis on March 13, the day the court issued a ruling of a 50/50 custody arrangement — a ruling which left Moore “distraught,” according to a report by WEAR.

The sheriff announced today that Moore has also been arrested and charged with accessory to murder and tampering with evidence in Vinson’s death.

Johnson said the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office arrested Curtis on the murder warrant. They also searched Curtis’ vehicle and found what they believe is the murder weapon and a note which contained information including the victim’s description, vehicle description, work address and home address.

Johnson said deputies arrived at the scene on March 19 to find the 4-year-old next to his dead father.

“What a human piece of trash,” Johnson said of Curtis. “To shoot somebody with their four-year-old child there. I could get up here and go on ad nauseum about how people treat other people.

“This goes beyond that. It’s horrible. Just horrible.”

Johnson said Monday the two suspects are in the “Milton Hilton,” a nickname for the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton, Fla. Curtis is held without bond, while Moore is being held under $200,000 bond.

Johnson also said both suspect’s phone records are being examined and that more arrests are possible.

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