Acknowledging a Life Concluded Behind Prison Walls
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Larry Wayne Whitehead, age 63, who died on November 9, 2025, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Whitehead had been serving a life sentence at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility following his 1996 conviction in Marshall County for a murder-for-hire scheme that tragically claimed the life of Albertville Police Detective Andy Whitten.
Transferred from the prison infirmary to UAB Hospital on October 31 for continued treatment of a natural disease, Mr. Whitehead remained under medical care until his death was pronounced at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. His passing marks the end of a sentence that spanned nearly three decades, a period defined by confinement, consequence, and reflection. While the circumstances of Mr. Whitehead’s conviction remain a solemn chapter in Alabama’s legal history, his death invites a moment of pause—a recognition of the human life behind the headlines. Every individual, regardless of their past, carries a story shaped by choices, consequences, and the passage of time. In the final weeks of his life, Mr. Whitehead received medical care and faced the natural decline of health that comes with age and illness.
To the family of Detective Andy Whitten, whose loss remains deeply felt, and to those impacted by the events of 1996, this moment may stir difficult emotions. The justice system rendered its judgment, and Mr. Whitehead served his sentence until the end. His passing does not erase the pain of the past, but it does close a chapter that began with tragedy and ended with quiet finality.
As we acknowledge Larry Wayne Whitehead’s death, we do so with respect for the complexity of justice, the dignity of human life, and the importance of remembering all those affected by violence and loss.
With solemn reflection and professional regard,
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