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Elizabeth Rose Mitchell, 24, of Andalusia, pled guilty this week to first degree burglary for her role in an October 2023 home invasion and shooting in Gantt.

Circuit Judge Lex Short received Mitchell’s plea, and she was sentenced to 25 years.

“Burglary I is a violent crime, and Mitchell and her co-defendants shot and nearly killed a man. She is exactly where she needs to be,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell.

Mitchell and eight others were charged after the nine individuals traveled from Troy to Gantt to commit the crime. Officials with the district attorney’s office said the evidence showed that Mitchell and one other female co-defendant knew the victim and had arranged to meet him at his home under the false pretense that they needed to borrow money. As the plan unfolded, six males wearing masks and armed with guns busted opened the door and opened fire. The victim was shot multiple times, but survived. The nine individuals left the home with only $40.

“But for Elizabeth Mitchell, I don’t believe this crime would’ve happened,” said Merrell, who prosecuted the case. “She is the person who knew the victim and set up the visit to his home, with intentions to rob him, or make him available for the others to rob him. It makes no difference that she didn’t pull the trigger — her behavior is intolerable, and she clearly presents a safety risk to our community.”

Merrell expressed his thanks to the Covington County Sheriff’s Office and its investigators for their good work in this investigation.

“A well put-together investigation makes the ultimate resolution of these cases not only possible, but much easier for our office. We are fortunate to have such able investigators working these cases,” he said.

These defendants were some of the first to receive Aniah’s Law hearings in Covington County.

“Following their arrests, each of the nine defendants were held without bond after Aniah’s Law hearings. Six of the nine cases have been convicted or adjudicated, with all of them being incarcerated for lengths based upon the level of involvement each individual had in the crime. However, three still remain awaiting trial, so we cannot comment further on the case at this time,” said Merrell.