| Sources |
- [S1000] Newspaper, Magazine, or Media Outlet, Benjamin Bullard, "Stallings Pleads Guilty to Murder, Sentenced to 28 Years," Cullman Times, 25 May 2016.
Days before he was set to stand trial for killing a local woman, a Berlin man has instead pleaded guilty to a single charge of murder.
Patrick Wesley Stallings, 36, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors just ahead of the start of his scheduled jury trial, which had been slated to begin May 23.
He had remained in the Cullman County Detention Center on a $75,000 cash bond ever since he was arrested for the crime in early 2014.
Stallings agreed to serve 28 years in prison by admitting to the murder charge.
Stallings was set to stand trial for shooting Britni Lynn Champagne with a 12-gauge shotgun in March of 2014. Law enforcement’s statement of probable cause observed Stallings and Champagne to have been arguing about infidelity in a romantic relationship just before the murder.
Champagne, who was 32 at the time of her death, was killed by a single shot to her abdomen. She was pronounced dead after being transported to Huntsville Hospital for her injuries.
Stallings shot her inside his residence, located in the Berlin community. A minor child was present at the time of the shooting, and was considered a witness in the case.
Court records indicate Stallings confessed to shooting Champagne while on the phone with law enforcement shortly after leaving the scene in the Champagne’s car.
Deputies recovered “multiple used syringes, drug paraphernalia, the [alleged] offender’s wallet with a photograph of the victim and a 12-gauge shotgun, which is believed to be the weapon” used to shoot Champagne, according to court records.
https://www.cullmantimes.com/news/stallings-pleads-guilty-to-murder-sentenced-to-28-years/article_d203d004-222d-11e6-b9be-7f9c48b2411d.html
- [S1000] Newspaper, Magazine, or Media Outlet, "Murder Suspect Makes Suicide Attempt in Cullman County," WRBC Staff, wrbc.com, 3 March 2014, updated 10 March 2014.
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - The Cullman County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting death of a woman in the Berlin community. Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting on 278 East on Sunday around 1 p.m.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered a 32-year-old woman had been shot. The sheriff's office identified her as Britni Lynn Champagne.
Champagne was transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center and airlifted to Huntsville Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The sheriff's office says she died from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Sheriff Mike Rainey said the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting. A Cullman aviation officer spotted the suspect's unoccupied vehicle in a wooded area near the Mulberry River south of Hollypond.
On Monday, the sheriff's office identified the suspect as Patrick Wesley Stallings, 33.
Stallings was located a couple of hunderd yards away hiding in a creek. Authorities say he overdosed on narcotics in a suicide attempt as he was being taken into custody. Deputies had the suspect transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center. His condition is not known at this time.
He is being held in connection to the shooting.
https://www.wbrc.com/story/24865713/murder-suspect-attempts-to-take-his-own-life-after-a-cullman-county-woman-found-shot-to-death/
- [S285] The Times Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate, (Name: Advance Publications; Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Date: Since 1837;), Britni Lynn Champagne obituary, 5 March 2014–7 March 2014.
CHAMPAGNE BRITNI LYNN CHAMPAGNE, age 32 years, passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2014. She lived most of her life in Chalmette, La. and Slidell, La., before moving to Cullman, Al. Britni was a loving mother of 3 children; Bailey and Boston Moody and Kaylen Finley. Beloved Daughter of Randy Champagne and Sherry Irby Burtchaell. Step daughter of Ellen Champagne. Sister of Tyler Champagne and James Burtchaell. Also survived by her grandparents; Lynn and Jimmy Champagne; Alan and Mary Irby; her aunt and godmother, Jody Champagne Randle and uncle, Jerry Irby, great aunts, uncles and cousins. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Services at HONAKER FUNERAL HOME, 1751 GAUSE Blvd. WEST (IN FOREST LAWN CEMETERY), Slidell, LA, on Monday, March 10, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. Interment in FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. Visitation on Monday after 11:00 A.M. until funeral time. Please visit www.honakerforestlawn.com to sign guestbook. Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA.
https://obits.nola.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/britni-champagne-obituary?id=11081928
- [S915] Death Notices and Obituaries, Christopher Douglas Finley obituary, The Birmingham News, 1 May 2012–2 May 2012.
FINLEY, CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS Christopher Douglas Finley, age 30 of Birmingham, AL passed away on April 30, 2012. He is survived by his daughter, Kaylen Finley; fiancee, Britni Champagne; father, Butch Finley; mother, Charlotte Norris; sister, Alison Marie Finley; brothers, Brent Finley and DJ "Donovan" Finley; grandmothers, Ruth Finley and Gloria Battles; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Services will be on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be an hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East. Dr. Brad Moseley will be officiating over the services. Jefferson Memorial Trussville directing.
https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/birmingham/name/christopher-finley-obituary?id=19589892
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Vitter-Weaver Genealogy
1982 - 2014 (32 years)
1982 - 2012 (~ 31 years)
