Funeral services have been announced for Justin Elrod, 43, and his wife, Lena Elrod, 42, the Pickens County couple who were found dead inside their home on July 12.
Services and visitation
Skelton Funeral Home in Reform will handle both services. A Celebration of Life for Lena Elrod is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at the Skelton Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation to follow. Justin Elrod's funeral will be held Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m., with visitation from noon until the service.
| Person | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lena Elrod | Friday, July 24 | Service (time posted by funeral home); visitation follows | Skelton Funeral Home Chapel, Reform |
| Justin Elrod | Saturday, July 25 | 12 p.m. visitation; 2 p.m. service | Skelton Funeral Home Chapel, Reform |
Crime details and arrests
Authorities discovered the couple on July 12 after responses to a reported burglary in the area of the 1800 block of County Road 49. Law enforcement officers from the Pickens County Sheriff's Office, along with police from Reform, Gordo and Carrollton, were dispatched about 12:15 a.m.
Investigators located George Birmingham, 45, in a vehicle at the scene and took him into custody on burglary-related allegations. As detectives continued the inquiry, they determined Birmingham allegedly had committed the homicides on nearby Langdon Woods Road shortly before the reported burglary. Deputies then went to the Elrods' home and discovered the bodies.
According to charging documents made public by authorities, Birmingham is accused of:
- Capital murder of two or more people
- Two counts of murder
- Second-degree burglary
- Possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana
- Resisting arrest
Documents allege Justin Elrod was struck and/or stabbed about the head and body with a metallic or other inanimate object. Records say Lena Elrod was beaten in the head with a reciprocating saw or another inanimate object.
"Loved life and lived it to the fullest every day."
The line above is taken from Lena Elrod's obituary and reflects how family described her life.
Who the victims were
Justin Elrod worked as a federal corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Aliceville and was an Army veteran who served as a military police officer in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lena Elrod's obituary notes her zest for life, but provides no further professional details.
Ongoing investigation and local impact
Birmingham is being held at the Pickens County Jail. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and court proceedings are pending. The deaths have reverberated through Reform and surrounding communities, where neighbors have described the Elrods as known to friends and family.
For residents seeking ways to support the family, attendance at the scheduled services and expressions of condolence through Skelton Funeral Home are appropriate; the funeral home is coordinating visitations and services.
As the case moves through the local justice system, News Block will monitor court calendars and public records for updates on charges, arraignment dates and any statements from prosecutors or defense counsel.
(Reporting from Pickens County.)
