No motive yet in murder case

Published 11:59 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Investigators still don’t know what caused Bobby Wayne Copeland to allegedly shoot and kill his wife last week, Sheriff Dennis Meeks said Tuesday.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to the couple’s North Creek home in Florala shortly after 5 a.m. Fri., July 3, after someone at the residence had reported that, “someone may be dead.”

When law enforcement officers arrived, they found Dorothy Copeland, 63, dead inside the home from what appeared to be at least one gunshot wound to the head.

Meeks said Bobby Wayne Copeland, 69, was questioned “officially” by investigators Saturday but gave no indication as to what led him to allegedly shoot his wife.

“Right now, I can’t speak as to a motive behind the shooting,” Meeks said. “I can say Mr. Copeland has been questioned officially once. He has informed investigators that he wished to evoke his right for an attorney to be present the next time he was formally questioned.”

Tuesday afternoon, Copeland remained in the Covington County Jail under a $500,000 bond and had not been appointed an attorney.

“Since it doesn’t look like he is going to be able to bond out of jail, I look for him to be in front of a judge pretty quickly so that he can have an attorney appointed to him,” Meeks said.

Meeks said that could happen as early as today.

Meeks said until Copeland is appointed an attorney, the investigation is stalled.