Wife indicted for murder

A Colbert County grand jury has indicted a Barton woman on murder charges for the December shooting death of her husband.

The grand jury returned the indictment against Debbie Kimbrough, 48. She is accused of shooting Howard "Sonny" Kimbrough, 63, as he slept at the couple's home on Red Rock Road on Dec. 13.

Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said the victim was found on the bed in an upstairs bedroom. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Colbert Coroner Carlton Utley.

May said it appeared he had been shot once in the back with a large-caliber handgun.

May said deputies were dispatched to the home after Debbie Kimbrough called a family member and reportedly admitted to the shooting and was threatening to harm herself.

When deputies arrived, they discovered Debbie Kimbrough beneath a pier near an old pond about 150 feet behind the home, May said.

Debbie Kimbrough remains in the Tuscumbia jail, where she has been held since her arrest Dec. 13, on a $100,000 bond. Female inmates from Colbert are housed at the city jail.

May said the probe revealed Debbie Kimbrough had been depressed before the shooting. Investigators have not said what role her depression may have played in the shooting.

Colbert District Attorney Bryce Graham Jr. declined to comment on the indictment. "I don't want to comment on any issues related to the case while it is still pending."

Defense attorney Tim Case, of Muscle Shoals, said additional facts about the case will be made public as it makes its way through the court system.

"The case will play out in the courtroom in the presence of a jury," Case said. "In the meantime, we're going to continue to defend it and get ready for a jury trial."

A trial date has not been set.

The Kimbroughs owned Party World in Muscle Shoals, a children's entertainment business.

May said the couple was well known around the Shoals. They had been married for 15 years.

Sonny Kimbrough created elaborate displays of Christmas lights at the couple's home each year and would dress as Santa Claus and give presents to children who visited, May said.

If convicted of murder, Kimbrough could be sentenced to life in prison.