DNA Test Results Identify Walker County Church Theft Suspect

DNA test results have helped authorities identify the suspect responsible for a church theft in Walker County nearly two years ago.

According to the Walker County Sheriff's Office, the Midway Church of Christ in Jasper was burglarized in December of 2019. Computers, televisions, and other electronics were stolen, and many church offices and Sunday school rooms were damaged and vandalized. The church sustained close to $7,000 in damages as a result of the burglary.

The Walker County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, and Investigative Captain Darrell Mote and Investigator Brad Curtis noted the suspect had entered through a broken window, injuring himself and leaving a trail of blood throughout the church. Investigators then obtained DNA from these blood samples and sent them to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for identification.

Investigator Curtis was recently notified that the DNA samples submitted matched the DNA profile of convicted felon Corey Wade Yocum of Jasper. Yocum, who was already in the Walker County Jail on another charge, was then officially charged with Burglary Third Degree, Theft of Property First Degree, and Criminal Mischief First Degree in connection with the church burglary.

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“It’s rare that we receive DNA results back before the statute of limitations is up on many crimes. Thankfully, this particular property crime is a felony, which carries a longer statue of limitations. That gave us enough time to charge this suspect within the time frame allowed by law,” said Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith.